Browser User Agent & Friends Info: I Can Use Your Help (Volunteers Anyone?)

[Aruna]

After watching a recent back-and-forth on the forum about trying to unsuccessfully identify a user's browser and screen size so we can help them but not being able to do so because the user is unwilling to do so. I decided to put together something they can simply click and we have what we need to help. Hopefully will also make them realize it can benefit them and help resolve the issue and that it is quite safe.

So,  I put together a small html+php module that grabs the user information from the browser being used and saves it in a database.

I would be extremely grateful if whoever is reading this is willing to SHARE YOUR USER-AGENT INFO.

The information I am gathering is the browser(user agent), screen width, screen height, viewport width, viewport height, ip address and timestamp.I have attached a zip file containing the source files for you to review before proceeding.

If you have questions please do ask.

EDIT: Attached screenshot will ease your minds. That is my Firefox, Cellphone and Google Chrome :-)

[Thaddy]

I just polluted your database 
Not on purpose, but I forgot to set the user agent back to normal after I yesterday showed how to spoof it through the browser settings..
So now you have a user that "uses"  IE4 and a context that does no longer make sense...

[dbannon]

Worked for me.

....  IE4 and a context that does no longer make sense...

Using IE4 never made sense.

Davo

[MarkMLl]

This led to my having a play with the "User Agent Switcher & Manager" extension on my "running silent" browser. I can report that it still works, but your test page required Javascript to extract that: my recollection is that that's not necessary since it's communicated in the HTTP headers

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/User-Agent

I can't immediately take this one much further since I'd need to set up an HTTP proxy for a lump of software that's now VMed (hence unavailable to my desktop browser), but it would be interesting to explore whether things like the extension above has an identical effect on the UA string returned by the header and that accessed by Javascript.

MarkMLl

[Aruna]

I just polluted your database 

Ah, hell no! My pristine database? As long as you did not go spill any coffee on it we should be good 

Not on purpose, but I forgot to set the user agent back to normal after I yesterday showed how to spoof it through the browser settings..
So now you have a user that "uses"  IE4 and a context that does no longer make sense...

I will try this spoofing and get back to you 

[Aruna]

Worked for me.

Thanks for testing mate. Much obliged and owe you one 

....  IE4 and a context that does no longer make sense...

Using IE4 never made sense.

I have been there, done that and all am saying is --> IE4: "Inexplicably Evolving to the 4th-degree of Frustration". Because nothing says progress like a never-ending cycle of bafflement and hair-pulling! 😆

[Aruna]

Attached screenshot shows the current status of users who shared their user-agent info. Thank you to every single one of you personally!
Note to Self: NCSA_Mosaic/2.0 (Multics MR12.5) I see it but refuse to believe it, you gotta be kiddin me? 

[MarkMLl]

NCSA_Mosaic/2.0 (Multics MR12.5) I see it but refuse to believe it, you gotta be kiddin me? 

Makes the point adequately, I feel :-)

MarkMLl

[Marc]

Note to Self: NCSA_Mosaic/2.0 (Multics MR12.5) I see it but refuse to believe it, you gotta be kiddin me? 

I'm sure the forum wasn't visited by it 

[MarkMLl]

I'm sure the forum wasn't visited by it 

What's the UA string posting this message?

MarkMLl

[TRon]

@Aruna:
I personally do not have an opinion on the matter but keep in mind that an ip-address could be considered personal information, see for an explanation here.

It is for example one of the reasons that forum software removed the option/possibility to view an ip-address when reporting a post, e.g. to be in compliance with the GDPR.

[MarkMLl]

I personally do not have an opinion on the matter but keep in mind that an ip-address could be considered personal information, see for an explanation here.

That is true, but in an increasing proportion of cases the actual originator is hidden behind at least one layer of Carrier-Grade NAT.

It's also interesting to consider whether hidden IPs might be in contravention of the regulations which in some countries mandate an "Impressum" notice on a website.

MarkMLl

[Thaddy]

Entry 4 succesfully spoofed. should be two times 1920.

[Aruna]

Now you can browse the captured data HERE @Thaddy I think rows 20-21 is yours? There is another 1920 rows 15-16 am not sure who that is. Enjoy!

[Aruna]

NCSA_Mosaic/2.0 (Multics MR12.5) I see it but refuse to believe it, you gotta be kiddin me? 

Makes the point adequately, I feel :-)

MarkMLl

I think you gave the term 'A blast from the past' a whole new meaning, actually went and re-defined it mi thinks :-)