How to Fake a Browser Referrer for Blackhat CPA
First, why would you want to hide or fake a browser referrer? Answer: because you don’t want CPA networks and their advertisers knowing where your traffic came/comes from (obviously)! It doesn’t matter what the source of traffic is – MySpace, Facebook, torrents, foreign, incentivised, etc – if it’s against a network’s/advertiser’s ToS, an affiliate may be get banned and even lose any accumulated earnings if he/she gets caught, so that’s the reason to fake/hide a browser’s referrer.
There are a few ways to remove (hide) a browser referrer, like double meta-refresh, but if you’re new (or newish) to a CPA network and start doing significant conversions via a blank referrer they WILL become suspicious, after all, you have no track record with them and they don’t know where your traffic comes from so it’s quite natural.
The perfect solution is to give the networks a referrer of a site optimized for the particular offer(s) you are promoting. To understand this better, here’s a simple example with an adult dating offer (obviously, you can use more than one site for different traffic sources/offers).
With this example, traffic is sent to the adult blog which automatically redirects it to the relevant adult offer. So, if the CPA networks check the referrer, they will see the URL of the adult blog (optimized for that particular offer) and NOT the real source of the traffic.
So, how do you get the blog to automatically redirect to the relevant CPA offer? Simple, use a WP plugin called: CPA Redirector
I’ve developed and tested this plugin over a long period of time - hope you guys appreciate it! I’ve tested with numerous browsers and browser versions, and many networks. To get the plugin to work properly you MUST follow the below instructions exactly and test it before using it!
CPA Redirector: Instructions
Download below, copy to the WP plugin directory, and then activate.
Now, you MUST edit the header file (header.php) of your blog’s theme (in the theme folder - /public_html/wp-content/themes) and add the following line of code to the first line of header.php:
<?php if (prc_red()) exit(); ?>
It must be on the first line of header.php! If you don’t do this, the plugin will not work! Your header.php should look something like this:
Now, set the blog permalinks to something like: /%postname%/ (don’t forget to add the .htaccess code). Finally, let’s learn how to use it - the user interface is below.
Option 1: This is the redirection method. There are two options here: Java Script and Meta Refresh. You should always use the Java Script option as it’s the most reliable way to pass the referrer on.
Option 2: Magic Number. This is any number, but choose 4 digits or more.
Option 3: These are URLs of posts on your blog. You use these with magic number to redirect traffic.
Option 4: These are your affiliate links. One affiliate link per page. IMPORTANT: include the ‘HTTP://’ prefix with affiliate links, otherwise they wont work properly!
Let’s get going. Add some articles (use free articles from goarticles.com, ezinearticles.com, etc) to a blog you want to use for redirection. Put some relevant banners on the blog, so it’s optimized for the offer(s) you are promoting. Go to CPA redirector in WP Admin and add your affiliate links to the pages, including your magic number and save the settings.
To redirect traffic to your CPA offer(s), simply use the post URL combined with the magic number you have chosen. So, with the above example, I’d use: http://myadultblog.com/adult-video-dating/?mn=32453245
The post URL is ‘http://myadultblog.com/adult-video-dating/’ and ‘?mn=’ is the way to pass your magic number to the blog. All traffic sent to http://myadultblog.com/adult-video-dating/?mn=32453245 will be automatically redirected to the proper CPA offer.
The traffic will not see the blog. If a CPA network check the referrer URL they will see: http://myadultblog.com/adult-video-dating/ and if they visit that blog post, they will see it’s promoting their particular offer 
I have a new version of this plugin available very soon with much more functionality including controlling redirection rate. So, make sure you get on my Wordpress Blackhat list here: http://wpblackhat.com/
76
If a cpa network checks the referrer, won’t they see the full referrer? including the request string “?mn=xxxx” ?
thank you
Great post, found this poast via the BHW forum and must say this method is an education in and of itself.
Nice work! Thank you!
this is awesome thank you
I am stuck on this:
(don’t forget to add the .htaccess code).
I changed the permalink, what where is the .htaccess code?
The .htaccess code:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
Drat that didnt work. Lets try again:
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>
@wesley: Nope! The request string is removed.
@busin3ss: Cheers! Hope Vegas was good!
@Bill & Joe: the .htaccess code is the standard permalinks stuff, and nothing else.
Hey Brad, the “Next Page” button shows …/page/2/ etc but still shows the CPA blackhat trick
Whats going on ?!
Brad, sounds like a great solution man.
One major reason why i would like to want to use this is to prevent unnecessary competition from networks or advertisers.
A very valid reason you may want to include as well in your leading paragraph.
You can add up a redirector like asp.. response.redirect ..
But it’s better to make a special page for every affiliations u are into. wherein u have buttons and stuffs. But then the page should redirect after a few seconds even if the surfer has not clicked any buttons yet. he he he.
Brad, you’ve unleashed a HURRICANE in the blackhat marketing world! It will never be the same now
hey brad man awsome
tut man u Fu**** rock man
but i need a fav man willing to pay
im not getting this can u get back 2 me via email plz thanks
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
thanks a lot for the plugin !
I believe Wesley is correct. Can you comment on
whether the CPA network checking the referrer would see the full url, including the request string “?mn=xxxx” ?
Great plugin but I too am wondering about the referrer including, or not including, the magic number.
Guys, test the plugin! The query string is not passed! I’ve tested it on many CPA networks - it’s 100% undetectable!
Wow Brad, you must be making tons there…
There’s no reason why any Affiliate network wont love you
Thnx a lot for this - I’d been doin’ double meta refreshes but this is way better than that!
I love you!
(no homo)
I get a timeout before the plug in gets finished adding all my pages. I have roughly 1000 posts on my blog, is there a way I can set the timeout or the number of posts or even search for a common keyword?
Will this work if i use the /%postname%.html redirection?
Coz i am using it on all my blogs.
@Techknow Brad: Just install it on another blog.
@Wayne: Try it, if it does not work with that permalink, install it on another blog.
If I’m understanding this properly.
When a visitor loads your page they will be redirected to the CPA.
Now what if the CPA moderator manually loads your blog, won’t they see that the blog redirects to the CPA? And then catch you.
@Slash: Just test it, then you’ll see the light.
What does the Get/Post option do? I notice it’s not shown on the diagram so I assume it was an added feature?
Brad, 2 questions
1. is there only for 3 offers or can I add the /%category%/ permalink??
2. so moderators wont even see IPs of traffic??
Thanks
For those with questions about what the referrer shows… search for the Live HTTP Headers addon for FF
Why not use the add_action ‘get_header’ ?
add_action(’get_header’,'prc_test’);
function prc_test {
if (prc_red()) exit();
}
No theme tweaks required…
@0xfefefe: I totally missed that function - lol! Yep, makes the job much easier, thanks!
I sat this posted by you on bhw. Thanks.
Thanks for a great WP plugin!
So if I understand this correctly, this technique will make it appear as if the banner of the affiliate program has been clicked at your blogs post page?
i got script fake click include fake broswer. it work. you just need list of working proxy
very nice code. thank man!
uhm ok I am not that used to wp 2.7 but I looked everywhere and can’t see the plugin page you got up here.. I installed/activated it from the plugin page and I can only see “CPA Redirector” and that’s a link to this blog. Does this work with WP2.7?
bah I knew I’d find it one second after posting here!
it’s under settings.
Great stuff man, thankx and hats off to ya.
Can you use those urls to cookiestuff ?
To get this straight… by typing in the unique url it will AUTOMATICALLY redirect them THROUGH your blog to the offer.
The landing page is optimized for seo and after they land on your page they are sent to the offer?
yes it very nice
thank you very much maaaaaaaan
Thanks for the CPA Redirector download and instructions. I’ve learned alot from your posts and visit regularly.
Hey thx for this
Say i have a warez forum having high traffic (A) .. ans another blog very low traffic (B)
Now i sign up with an affiliate
Now say i have made a cloaked link on (B) and then use this plugin and and used a banner in (A) and pasted the link with the magic number as shown
When some one clicks on banners on (A)… will the affiliate company ever know that the click came from (A) as they don’t accept this type of traffic
Regards
I cannot change the post url /with ?mnxxxxx it s keep reversing back to original /%postname%/
Very nice tool…
Thank you so much
Brilliant work Brad!!
I will try this with my CPA network.
this is cool technic that i ever learn…and i start to thinking a lot of thing to do woth this plugin
thanks for this helpful cpa method and the php plugin. Really amazing!!
Thanks for this it works.
I have two questions.
First- I have a blog at http://speedywap.com which has warez and google wont allow googleads on there and I have another blog which I will open but it will not have any illegal content so I can put google ads on there.
Now if I want to put googles ads on speedywap(.)com using the cpa redirector with google ads of the llegal blog, will it first redirect to the llegal blog before it redirects to the ad offer when the ad is clicked on the illegal blog.
Second- Can I use the permalink /%post-id%/%post-name%/ on both blogs with CPA redirector.
Can you tell me some blackhatworld account. I had being waiting in the queue for a long time.
Nice plugin, but when I can’t get the user interface up. All I get is a editor for the file…..anyone know what’s wrong?
Tom
What a fantasitc site i have saved this page for further reading in my exploer bookmark box and keep up the good work i learnt a lot from here
Great plugin - will try it out for sure.
Thanks a ton man !
how to use fake rediector in a simple php page or html page?
nice tips brad. im starting out with CPA and this technique surely beats the double meta refresh technique. thanx brad!
Thanks for this, i just signed to BHW and found your post
Hey brad,
Do you know why the magic number would reset back to 0? Mine appears to be resetting and it is intermittent.
Any clue? Thanks a lot.
Hi, im just a noob not even started yet in cpa. read ur post brad on bhw, & got here. i understand the great of this plugin, but my question as a noob:
when the traffics redirected from the blog to the cpa sites, is the blog counts those as visitors, or the blog visitor remains zero?
i wonder how if the cpa am check the source of traffic (the blog) and find that there is zero traffic on it
another noob question: where do i find that WP plugin directory? is it available to any blog sites?
Thanks for this great post. Very Educational. There is also simular techniques over at http://invadersforum.com Great Blackhat forum
Okay, the magic question now becomes: how does this work with tracking, specifically prosper202? Any ideas?
Great plugin - will try it out for sure. Thx!
Hi,
Glad you share this great plugin.
The newest version provides the “javasrcipt form” redirection method. Is it the most reliable compare to other 2?
thanks for the plugin
Thank you Brad for providing such a fantastic and useful tool! I was keptical at first but like you have mentioned it works like a dream! This is a must have for anyone with a wordpress blog, no matter what color your hat is!
Thank you very much mate
Thanks so much for this. Faking the referrer is waaaay better compared to blanking.
Nice job pal…
I know I’m way behind, getting this at this time, but it’s fantastic. It fits right into my plans perfectly. Thanks for a great plugin!
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