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Is it possible to force browsers so they don't include the HTTP referer header?

I'd like that every page visit looks like it's accessed by a manually typed URL in the browser's address bar, not like it's the result of activating a hyperlink (even if this is the case).

2
  • Which browser(s)?
    – and31415
    May 20, 2014 at 0:02
  • 1
    All browsers or any browser. Doesn't matter.
    – Ssss Ppppp
    May 20, 2014 at 1:02

2 Answers 2

9
+50

To disable referrers in the various browsers and utilities:

Chrome

Invoking Chrome with the parameter of --no-referrers will disable sending referrers.

Or you could use the extension of noref.

Firefox

Private browsing will already strip paths in HTTP referrers to the bare website only, such as
Referer: https://www.reddit.com/.

Firefox also allows very extensive control of referrers via switches in about:config. Their list is found in Security/Referrer.

The main switch here is network.http.sendRefererHeader, but much finer control is possible:

  • controls whether or not to send a referrer regardless of origin
  • values:
    • 0 = never send the header
    • 1 = send the header only when clicking on links and similar elements
    • 2 = (default) send on all requests (e.g. images, links, etc.)

Opera

Can be disabled via menu Tools > Preferences > Advanced > Network, and uncheck "Send referrer information".

Spoofing web service

http://referer.us/

Standalone filtering proxy (spoof any header)

Privoxy

Spoofing http_referer when using wget

--referer=url

Spoofing http_referer when using curl

-e, --referer <URL>

Spoofing http_referer wth telnet

telnet www.yoursite.com 80 (press return)
GET /index.html HTTP/1.0 (press return)
Referer: http://www.hah-hah.com (press return)
(press return again)

Reference: In what cases will HTTP_REFERER be empty.

1
  • Great answer thanks. Hence as a programmer, it is not possible to rely on the referer header. Nov 4, 2019 at 11:21
3

You can use a combination of the addon Clean Links & DoNotTrack.

You can get Clean Links from here & DoNotTrack from here.

DoNotTrack will remove the trackers that are following you. This will also make sites think that you typed the address and not came from a search engine such as Google, or Yahoo. Clean Links will remove the obvious ones that are in the link automatically. This one might not work with all sites, but it's worth a try.

If DoNotTrack does not work for your browser, or if you'd like an alternative, use Disconnect. If you are using Chrome, you can use Fix URL Links Redirect instead of Clean Links.

Get Disconnect from here & Fix URL Links Redirect from here.

Personally, I use Disconnect what you can choose whatever you want.

4
  • Hey there, you deleted your SO question before I could reply: "Looks like your question could indeed use some help. I'd be happy to upvote your question if you edit your question to be a bit more specific (so instead of that list, you could have a paragraph explaining what it should do; lists tend do 'split up' your question into 4 parts, while it's actually 1 question), and explain what research you've done so far and that you've found nothing." So, you could either undelete your question, or post another one which explains a bit more specifically what your problem is. Good luck!
    – joeytje50
    May 24, 2014 at 17:45
  • @joeytje50 Okay, I will undelete & add more info tomorrow. Thanks for helping!
    – Sadra
    May 24, 2014 at 18:08
  • Let me know when it's back, so that I can upvote it.
    – joeytje50
    May 24, 2014 at 18:09
  • @joeytje50 Here it is. stackoverflow.com/questions/23851834/… I've figured most of the part out, now I only have to know how to compress it.
    – Sadra
    May 25, 2014 at 3:51

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