More tracking disabling functions...

The things that make user tracking difficult...

[mipapage]

I came across a setting, that I believe is default in the Firebird browser, that was throwing off my tracking script.

There is a setting in Tools > Options > Cookies entitled 'for the current session only' that you can click on or off. It seems that this is enabled by default. So anytime you visit a site, rather than use the information in the stored cookie, it overwrites the cookie for the new session.

IE does not have a similar function.

More 'things that make user tracking difficult' can be found in How to track visitors - An intermediate guide [webmasterworld.com].

[Receptional Andy]

>>that I believe is default in the Firebird browser

This wasn't the case with my install of firebird - 'cookies enabled' was the only box ticked for me, although I did choose the option to allow cookies 'for originating site only' afterwards.

>>IE does not have a similar function.

You can simulate this option in IE in the advanced privacy settings by disallowing all cookies, but choosing the 'always allow session cookies' option. Pretty unlikely that any significant number of visitors will do that though.

Although this certainly screws up the tracking of repeat visitors, at least a session cookie overcomes the proxy problems with tracking a unique around a site.

[mipapage]

Nice stuff Receptional Andy, and thanks for confirming the firebird setup. I must have gone clicking around at some point...

[Receptional Andy]

>>I must have gone clicking around at some point...

Yeh, I'm always doing that too. So I checked that I was right about the default behaviour. Just to confirm, I got this from the firebird site:

"By default, Mozilla Firebird accepts all cookies"

[cfx211]

I have also noticed that Norton's products in general have been more active in disabling certain elements of web pages. I don't know if they are doing anything for cookies, but we have found certain parts of our site do not work for Norton users because their firewall stuff is a little overzealous.

[mipapage]

I have also noticed that Norton's products

Yeah, I'm one of those that uses NIS, which included Norton Anti-Virus and Firewall.

NIS likes to nuke referer information, and I've found that I can't click on a whole buncj of different types of ads, including some adsense ads.

[Mardi_Gras]

ZoneAlarm Pro also allows user to kill referrer information, block cookies and ads, etc. As this trend continues it will make it even more difficult to obtain useful tracking info.

[cfx211]

We had to rewrite code to carry referrer around in session because you cannot rely on the header anymore to pass it.

I smell a need for some standards to emerge here. Too bad a lot of this is driven by sleazy ad tatics designed to get around anything in their way.

[mipapage]

We had to rewrite code to carry referrer around in session because you cannot rely on the header anymore to pass it.

Yep, rewrote some code last night to do the same. Managed to break my script and spent 3 hours bugkilling to bring it back to life, but I've realized that sessions are a powerful thing (and learnt a whole bunch more php.)

It definately improves the reliability of the data.