Accessing Work Site with Mozilla on Ubuntu: How to Trick the Server?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around accessing a work-related website that is restricted to Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, specifically from an Ubuntu system using Mozilla Firefox. Participants explore potential methods to bypass this restriction and the technical aspects of how web servers detect browser types.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses frustration at needing to switch to Windows XP to access a text-only website that requires Internet Explorer.
  • Another participant explains that the browser's user agent string is used by servers to identify the browser type and suggests that changing this string could allow access to the site.
  • A suggestion is made to use plugins that can modify the user agent string in Mozilla Firefox to mimic other browsers, particularly Internet Explorer.
  • A specific plugin is recommended as a tool to help users bypass restrictions on accessing websites that limit browser compatibility.
  • A later reply confirms the effectiveness of the suggested plugin for changing the browser identification.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the potential for using user agent modification to access the website, but there is no consensus on the specific technical limitations or the likelihood of success, particularly regarding the possibility of ActiveX controls being a factor.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve whether the website's restrictions are solely based on the user agent string or if other factors, such as ActiveX controls, are involved.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for users on Linux systems seeking to access websites that impose browser restrictions, particularly those who use Mozilla Firefox and are familiar with modifying browser settings.

waht
Messages
1,502
Reaction score
4
A certain website from work can only be accessed using internet explorer 6.0 or higher. I'm on ubuntu all the time and can't access it using mozzila. I've grown tired switching back to XP just to view the site which is in text only pretty much. So is there a way to trick the website somehow, and get in under mozzila? And how does the web server detect what browsing you are using?
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
The browser sends an identification string called the useragent string.
In opera you can select what it identifies itself as - often the site will technically work in other browsers but the server just checks for IE and then throws you out.
There are a bunch of plugins to identify mozilla as different browsers, google for useragent or cloaking plugin.
It might be the site uses an activeX control that WILL only work in IE but this is unlikely.
 
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/59

Might help.


It is a very useful tool to view the webs who restrict Fx users to access or only allow using a particular browser to access.

by WhoeverIam 3000 on January 4, 2009
 
It works, that plug in is very nice, you can change it to be seen as any browser.
 

Similar threads

Learning about Python application deployment - possible recommendations
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Chrome + NVidia intermittent BSOD with physics forums
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
How Should I Set Up IT for a Small Business with Minimal Server Needs?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
[ubuntu] Can't boot into anything after installing Ubuntu on Windows 7
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
6K
Comp Sci How to Integrate XML and JavaScript in Web Development?
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
2K
Is there a way to bypass Websense and access blocked websites at work?
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
9K
Understanding Net Neutrality: How Websites are Charged for Internet Access
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
5K
Dual Booting XP for File Access: How to Create a Partition Without Losing Data
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • Sticky
How to use the "w" in www
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
5K
Anonimity: Time to take the internet back.
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K