Websites know that you came from MSE - "Referrer" revisited

One-Eye

There have been many discussions of "referrer" over the years. This is the method where a website you visit knows which site you came from. Search for "referrer" if you want to look back.

The reason I have started this thread is that (until 28/02/2016) THIS COMP gives a perfect example of "referrer" in operation. You can use this to see what all the discussion is about and to check your favourite method of opening a competition from MSE, or even to check whether your referrer control add-on is working OK.

Try the various methods of opening the comp and look at the URL to see if MSE is mentioned in it.

The direct link to the comp is: https://yearofjeans.pgtb.me/8DdRNv



Results:

1) Clicking directly on the link does NOT hide where you came from.
2) "Open in New Tab" (and CTRL+Click and clicking central mouse button/scroll wheel) does NOT hide where you came from.
3) "Open in New Window" (and Shift+Click) does NOT hide where you came from.
4) Many browsers have add-ons that can hide (or adjust) the referrer automatically for the above cases.
5) Dragging a link to a new tab or window hides where you came from.
5) Opening a link "incognito" hides where you came from.
6) Right click and "copy link address" and pasting it in a new tab or window hides where you came from.

xLuckyxAshxWinsx

Hi One-Eye

I keep a spreadsheet of all the comps I enter with the link I enter through, I copy and paste it from MSE to my spreadsheet and the open it from there, do you think this would come up as hidden? Sorry not very technically minded lol.

Thanks

Ashley xx

RAP_2

Very helpful post thank you. I use refcontrol and didn't really know or think how to check if it was working but I used the links you provided with it on and off and it is working a treat

One-Eye

xLuckyxAshxWinsx wrote: »

Hi One-Eye

I keep a spreadsheet of all the comps I enter with the link I enter through, I copy and paste it from MSE to my spreadsheet and the open it from there, do you think this would come up as hidden? Sorry not very technically minded lol.

Thanks

Ashley xx

I'm not sure, but I think it would be hidden. That's the beauty of this particular competition - you can try your normal method and see what the URL says when the comp page opens.

priorslee

Thanks for this One-Eye - very helpful.
It showed that my set-up in Referrer Control was wrong - now tweaked and not showing that I've come from MSE.

Angiejf

I use an iPad, I don't know how to copy and paste from an iPad or to drag a link over to a new window, really not very tech savvy, but can anyone answer me if I have got the Do Not Track option in use in the settings for safari will that do the same thing as to hide where I have come from?

RAP_2

I have no ides but this may (or may not) help...
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4764762?start=0&tstart=0

kirankaur

Have you got less chance of winning if they know you used mse?

mjm3346

kirankaur wrote: »

Have you got less chance of winning if they know you used mse?

It can do depending on the T&C's but generally it should make no difference although it is very unlikely to increase your chances.

kirankaur

If you just used incognito browsing, would that block it?

brownhandbag

Would just like to add that I always click through the mse link and I don't think it has had any effect on my wins