| http_referer variable |
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The EIS system requires some measure of
security to ensure that race data for various events is separated into correct
locations and that the data is not compromised. One of the methods employed is
ensuring that page requests (form "clicks") come from the right pages. This is
done with the use of the HTTP_REFERER variable. If it is blocked by your
computer, you will continually see a "server error" message. A brief
description and a few specific software configuration suggestions
follow:
This variable is part of the HTTP protocol, the one used for the
functioning of the web. Imagine that you are navigating and that you are
viewing a page, called "A", in which there is a link to page "B". When you
click on the link, the browser asks the server for page "B" and among the
information sent by the browser to the server is the datum HTTP_REFERER, with
page "A"s address. That is to say, the browser tells the server what page is
asking for the new page. When an address is directly entered in the browser or
when you access a page from your Favorites, no information about the referrer
is sent, that means that the server may not know which page was being seen
before if you do not access the new page from a link.
Filtering this
variable therefore does not imply an increase of privacy when browsing, it only
prevents the server from knowing the address of the link that has been used to
access one of its pages. In most Operating Systems / Browsers / Firewall
Programs, the variable "HTTP_REFERER" is not filtered by default. If the
variable is being filtered, it may be done by several Applications:
Symantec Internet Security (NIS or NPF),
check the privacy configuration ("Privacy Control" - "Customize Privacy
Settings") and uncheck "Enable Browser Privacy"
ZoneAlarm, check "Privacy" / "Cookie
Control" / "Custom" and uncheck "Remove private header information".
If
you use Windows XP, it is possible that the variable is being filtered by the
Windows
Internet Connection Firewall. As this service may not be configured in
detail, you would have to temporily turn the Internet Connection Firewall off.
WE RECOMMEND ALWAYS USING A FIREWALL ON THE INTERNET so please consider
switching to one of the alternative products for industry standard
protection. |
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More information on internet security issues is available
at the home of Gibson Research, an internet
staple for accurate discussions of security issues along with a number of
fascinating utilities to test your own PC. |
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