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Comp sites knowing we are from mse

Do sites know we have got to them from mse.........and if so, are they likely to disqualify or not choose us as winners?

do those winning click on the links in each thread...or do you open a new window and google the website and find the competition that way?
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Comments

  • LadyMorticia
    LadyMorticia Posts: 19,899 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Everytime you click on a link from anywhere, the page will keep what is called the "referrer" information and so the website can check where you have come from.
    In Firefox, I've tweaked my config so that it never shows where I have come from when I click on links.

    I'm not sure if some sites will disqualify people if they find out they've come from here though.
    2019 Wins
    1/25

    £2019 in 2019
    £10/£2019
  • Thanks. How did you change that preference setting ? I wonder if I could do the same in safari? Does anyone know please?
  • elsien
    elsien Posts: 36,164 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I know there's been times when a smaller site has suddenly had a lot of traffic from here and tracked it back - I've seen owners signing up to say hello and thanks for entering my competition. Also some who are not happy at all.
    Most people posting competitions are doing it for the publicity, I suppose, so being on here gets the word out a bit more. And some sites ask you not to post the answers to make people rummage round their sites properly.
    I think mostly the ones who get miffed are where they'd like you to buy the magazines and instead we're getting the answers on here.

    I'm afraid I'm not hi tech enough to do what LadyMorticia has done, so I go via the links and take my chances.
    All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

    Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.
  • LadyMorticia
    LadyMorticia Posts: 19,899 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thanks. How did you change that preference setting ? I wonder if I could do the same in safari? Does anyone know please?

    Unfortunately, I don't know anything about Safari. :(

    Firefox tends to be very user-friendly and can be adapted for individual needs. In Firefox there's a whole hidden settings thing called about:config and alot of settings can be changed in there.

    Not sure about Safari. Sorry. :(
    2019 Wins
    1/25

    £2019 in 2019
    £10/£2019
  • LadyMorticia
    LadyMorticia Posts: 19,899 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    elsien wrote: »
    I know there's been times when a smaller site has suddenly had a lot of traffic from here and tracked it back - I've seen owners signing up to say hello and thanks for entering my competition. Also some who are not happy at all.
    Most people posting competitions are doing it for the publicity, I suppose, so being on here gets the word out a bit more. And some sites ask you not to post the answers to make people rummage round their sites properly.
    I think mostly the ones who get miffed are where they'd like you to buy the magazines and instead we're getting the answers on here.

    I'm afraid I'm not hi tech enough to do what LadyMorticia has done, so I go via the links and take my chances.

    It's not really that difficult but I only know how to do it in Firefox as it's pretty much the only browser I use.:o
    2019 Wins
    1/25

    £2019 in 2019
    £10/£2019
  • weeowens
    weeowens Posts: 81,990 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    Hi,the tips above by LM are great as a cover-all for all sites that you visit on your PC.
    I just use the drag & drop method on Firefox.Just drag the comp link to a new tab & no link back to MSE will show,as far as I understand.
    Personally I think it's not really a worry as most promotors welcome our publicity but I do it of habit now
    HTH
  • fire**fly
    fire**fly Posts: 148,056 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Do sites know we have got to them from mse.........and if so, are they likely to disqualify or not choose us as winners?

    do those winning click on the links in each thread...or do you open a new window and google the website and find the competition that way?

    hi, i've most sites saved on my faves & usually have 2 pages open, one for mse comp board & comp homepage on the other, specially on the mag weeklies/IPC mag/puzzler/tab monthlies/comps,
    if i've not got the homepage for a comp site then just paste/copy the link into a new window,
    though there are some that i enter straight from mse as they've been posted on here for years & are ok with the site owners that know we enter from mse :)
    please be a responsible pet owner & spay/neuter your pets, too many strays & not enough homes for them sadly. k2u58ioz4c8e.png




  • thetoothfairy
    thetoothfairy Posts: 1,513 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 3 September 2012 at 8:15AM
    Hi all - thanks for your answers - I did not know about the fact that I could paste the link in a new window and that would not do the track back...so many thanks for that. I fear safari will not be quite so user friendly as Firefox...but will take a good look and see if I can find a setting somewhere! I like the bookmark idea too...not sure why I didn't think of that!!

    Good luck all in your comping :-)
  • emiai
    emiai Posts: 1,254 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    I use IE, and have MSE open in one window and another window open next to it. This way I drag the link into the other browser, in hope that it will pick up the site I was on before.

    Does anyone know if this actually works? haha!
    Wishing you all good luck!
    Oldstyle moneysaving addict
  • Hi,

    Im on FF and just click on the links on here. Though I am considering using LadyM's idea. I dont think its stopped me winning anything yet, but I wouldn't know. Ive had a good August so Im not worried about clicking the links.
    Current Aims: Laptop/PC, decent money, holiday
    Best Wins: Ipad, Nintendo 3DS, £400 Shopping Spree at LK Bennett, £100 Boots vouchers
    Total Wins (Since April 2012) £3442.56
    Big thanks to all who post comps :T:beer:
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