Comments on: The most sexy browsers screw your analytics http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/ If you've read my articles somewhere on the Internet, expect something different here. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:16:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Sebastian http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2881 Sebastian Mon, 23 May 2011 04:41:27 +0000 http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2881 Here's another de-referrer: <a href="https://derefer.it/http://www.whatismyreferer.com/">test derefer.it/</a>, go to <a href="https://derefer.it/">https://derefer.it/</a> Here’s another de-referrer: test derefer.it/, go to https://derefer.it/

]]> By: Arpit http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2646 Arpit Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:10:42 +0000 http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2646 I've created browser extension for Chrome and Safari to block http referrer information. Get from here: http://blog.arpitnext.com/external-noreferrer-chrome Feedback welcome! I’ve created browser extension for Chrome and Safari to block http referrer information.

Get from here: http://blog.arpitnext.com/external-noreferrer-chrome

Feedback welcome!

]]> By: Rob http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2470 Rob Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:59:26 +0000 http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2470 @Doc Crandall: If you just want to block Google Analytics, I found some methods over here: http://superaff.com/archives/2005/11/30/how-to-block-google-analytics-from-tracking-you/ If you want to block all websites and analytics systems from seeing your entry route to a site, I've written about disabling your 'referer' here: http://www.distilled.co.uk/blog/reputation-monitor/hide-your-referer-keywords/ (The post was targeted at people doing a particular task, but it works for anyone who wants the privacy that comes with hiding the referrer string.) @Doc Crandall:
If you just want to block Google Analytics, I found some methods over here:
http://superaff.com/archives/2005/11/30/how-to-block-google-analytics-from-tracking-you/

If you want to block all websites and analytics systems from seeing your entry route to a site, I’ve written about disabling your ‘referer’ here:
http://www.distilled.co.uk/blog/reputation-monitor/hide-your-referer-keywords/

(The post was targeted at people doing a particular task, but it works for anyone who wants the privacy that comes with hiding the referrer string.)

]]> By: Doc Crandall http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2457 Doc Crandall Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:47:22 +0000 http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2457 Humor me. What if I don't want a website tracking where I've come from? Humor me. What if I don’t want a website tracking where I’ve come from?

]]> By: Sebastian http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2414 Sebastian Tue, 25 May 2010 15:14:29 +0000 http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2414 <p>Here's Danny Sullivan's take on <a href="http://searchengineland.com/the-death-of-web-analytics-an-ode-to-the-referrer-42875" title="An Ode To The Threatened Referrer">The Death Of Web Analytics?</a></p> <p>My plain summary: Fucking with the HTTP_REFERER puts the Web's economy at risk. If a page is soooo private, by all means link out in a way that not a single user agent passes an HTTP_REFERER to the link's destination. User agents must not suppress the referrer in general, but really should come with an easy procedure for users who want to follow a link without traces in referrer logs and such.</p> Here’s Danny Sullivan’s take on The Death Of Web Analytics?

My plain summary: Fucking with the HTTP_REFERER puts the Web’s economy at risk. If a page is soooo private, by all means link out in a way that not a single user agent passes an HTTP_REFERER to the link’s destination. User agents must not suppress the referrer in general, but really should come with an easy procedure for users who want to follow a link without traces in referrer logs and such.

]]> By: Mykola Stryebkov http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2325 Mykola Stryebkov Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:01:13 +0000 http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2325 @Aaron Davidson you're not quite right: on my Mac Chrome shows different behavior in case of opening a link in a new tab from context menu and opening a new tab by cmd click. In the first case Chrom really doesn't send referer, but in second - does. And this behavior doesn't depend on source referer. I've checked twice :-) @Aaron Davidson
you’re not quite right: on my Mac Chrome shows different behavior in case of opening a link in a new tab from context menu and opening a new tab by cmd click.

In the first case Chrom really doesn’t send referer, but in second - does. And this behavior doesn’t depend on source referer. I’ve checked twice :-)

]]> By: Vineet Dwivedi http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2289 Vineet Dwivedi Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:32:34 +0000 http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2289 Oh my God! And all the time we were thinking people are typing our name in browsers and coming. Direct hit to our site is unusually high..I think this is the main reason. Oh my God!

And all the time we were thinking people are typing our name in browsers and coming. Direct hit to our site is unusually high..I think this is the main reason.

]]> By: Aaron Davidson http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2206 Aaron Davidson Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:15:06 +0000 http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2206 A client pointed out a bug on their site with Chrome today. I thought it was to do with setting persistent cookies with javascript, but it turned out to be down to no referrer. I came across this blog and want to share something of greater concern. After thorough testing I conclude that: a) Chrome does support the referrer - though not when opened in a new tab/window (bug#1935) b) but not when the referrer was a Google site It seems they don't want you to use referral info from Google and as they control their browser, they can stop it. I never understood why Google created a browser, still don't, but this hints on the sinister. A client pointed out a bug on their site with Chrome today.
I thought it was to do with setting persistent cookies with javascript, but it turned out to be down to no referrer.
I came across this blog and want to share something of greater concern. After thorough testing I conclude that:
a) Chrome does support the referrer - though not when opened in a new tab/window (bug#1935)
b) but not when the referrer was a Google site
It seems they don’t want you to use referral info from Google and as they control their browser, they can stop it.
I never understood why Google created a browser, still don’t, but this hints on the sinister.

]]> By: Sebastian http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2101 Sebastian Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:44:12 +0000 http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2101 Don't be such an ignorant privacy nazi. IOW, that's bullshit. You can't use session cookies to track 3rd party referrers. Sending an HTTP_REFERER is the default behavior in all browsers, and that's the right thing to do. When you don't want to send an HTTP_REFERER for a particular click, then use <a href="http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/referrer-spoofing-with-prefbar-341/">PrefBar</a> or a similar tool. User agents should offer such an option, for example "Open link w/o footprints" or so. Chrome's "Open link in incognito window" is a good start. Don’t be such an ignorant privacy nazi. IOW, that’s bullshit. You can’t use session cookies to track 3rd party referrers.

Sending an HTTP_REFERER is the default behavior in all browsers, and that’s the right thing to do.

When you don’t want to send an HTTP_REFERER for a particular click, then use PrefBar or a similar tool.

User agents should offer such an option, for example “Open link w/o footprints” or so. Chrome’s “Open link in incognito window” is a good start.

]]> By: anonymous http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2100 anonymous Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:58:46 +0000 http://sebastians-pamphlets.com/webkit-please-rescue-the-http_referer/#comment-2100 Claiming it's a bug to not send a referrer is wrong. I'm sorry that it upsets your analysis software, but privacy is more important than having some better tuned sale stats. I prefer to not have referrer activated. For example, when you click on an unsubscribe link from your within your webbased email client, it would show to the possible spammers that you use gmail for example. That's not something you want them to know. It should be an option in the browser, and off by default. We already have session cookies to track where we come from. Use those. Claiming it’s a bug to not send a referrer is wrong.

I’m sorry that it upsets your analysis software, but privacy is more important than having some better tuned sale stats.

I prefer to not have referrer activated.
For example, when you click on an unsubscribe link from your within your webbased email client, it would show to the possible spammers that you use gmail for example.
That’s not something you want them to know.

It should be an option in the browser, and off by default.
We already have session cookies to track where we come from. Use those.

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