Can a website know where I go *next*?

[Mermaidman]

I've been wondering . . .

For example, if I check out airfares on Orbitz, and then go directly from Orbitz to Delta.com by typing Delta.com in the address bar, would Orbitz know I went to Delta?

 

[BeauJangles]

I've been wondering . . .

For example, if I check out airfares on Orbitz, and then go directly from Orbitz to Delta.com by typing Delta.com in the address bar, would Orbitz know I went to Delta?

Not without some really fancy malware.

 

[SearchMaster]

The answer based on past experience is "sometimes".

There is a value in the HTTP header called "Referer" which is supposed to be populated on a link click, but some browsers would pass orbitz based on the scenario you provided.

 

[BeauJangles]

The answer based on past experience is "sometimes".

There is a value in the HTTP header called "Referer" which is supposed to be populated on a link click, but some browsers would pass orbitz based on the scenario you provided.

The referrer does exactly what it's name implies, it tells you the referring website. It will never tell you what website the person is about to visit.

 

[Mermaidman]

The referrer does exactly what it's name implies, it tells you the referring website. It will never tell you what website the person is about to visit.

Yeah (if I understand you correctly), I figured most sites are coded to know where you came FROM, correct?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

The referrer does exactly what it's name implies, it tells you the referring website. It will never tell you what website the person is about to visit.

And it won't tell you where a person came from if they use a bookmark or type the url. It only gets filled on a click-through.

 

[SearchMaster]

Ah, yes, my bad - I read his scenario backward

 

[BeauJangles]

And it won't tell you where a person came from if they use a bookmark or type the url. It only gets filled on a click-through.

Good catch and very true. Also some browsers or users choose to block or hide the referrer AND referrers can be hidden through meta-refreshes.

Yeah (if I understand you correctly), I figured most sites are coded to know where you came FROM, correct?

Depends on the site, but yeah. Analytics for websites these days usually track where a user is coming from. If the user is coming from a search engine, it usually marks down which engine and what keywords were used to find the site. They also can track things like how long you spend on the site, how many pages you visit, etc. Higher tech software can even show the web guys a video replay of your mouse movements and stuff.

 

[rcpratt]

Pretty sure if you're typing something in the address bar, it can never know where you were before or after.

 

[SearchMaster]

And it won't tell you where a person came from if they use a bookmark or type the url. It only gets filled on a click-through.

SOME browsers will, or used to several years ago when I last cared. It may have been a bug in some browsers to treat a URL typing as a click through but it did happen.

 

[spidey07]

It's not supposed to know, doesn't mean there aren't ways to find out.

 

[CZroe]

They may know based on agreements with shared ad streams/partners.

I don't use adblock and the ads on most sites are always related to something I searched for recently. For example, I searched for a Timbuk2 Hidden Backpack (wallet-sized thing that unzips into a full backpack) to carry in my motorcycle tank bag for when I need more capacity. I bought one. For many weeks, my fave forums and random browsing would show Timbuk2 ads for messenger bags and what not. I searched for a 12v Harbor Freight impact wrench because I couldn't find it in stores and wanted to confirm that they still carried it and then saw ads filled with Harbor Freight's current selection of pneumatic impact wrenches for weeks. Recently, I searched for their cheapest fish tape (nylon) and now I see HF fish tape ads showing their fish tape offerings.

 

[BeauJangles]

SOME browsers will, or used to several years ago when I last cared. It may have been a bug in some browsers to treat a URL typing as a click through but it did happen.

What exactly is the referrer going to say, "browser?" Referrers are blank when someone clinks on a bookmark because there is no webpage referring them to the site.

 

[yllus]

As of a couple of years ago there were a few ways to track the entire journey users take on the Web.

I never really delved into the details of this sort of thing, but I believe that the easiest implementation these days is used by the giant ad networks (Google/DoubleClick, AdBrite) are on so many websites that they can build a profile on you based on your IP and the cookies they put on your machine. Every time you visit a website in their network, they log it, and sometimes pass back some information about you to the site you just visited. I imagine Facebook might be useful in this regard to save for the fact that the press would have a field day if they did.

Then there are some seedier ways to do it that I believe (having just stood up and announced the question to the room of 12 developers) that those holes have been closed.

 

[Mermaidman]

Thx for the responses.

 

[bhanson]

They may know based on agreements with shared ad streams/partners.

This.