# Auto Referer

> Control HTTP referer to protect privacy and not break web. And this is the addon (maybe the only one?) that deals with the 'document.referrer' bug

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/auto-referer](https://chrome-stats.com/d/auto-referer)

## Overview

- **ID:** `auto-referer`
- **Platform:** Firefox
- **Type:** Firefox add-on
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** GarryW
- **Category:** privacy-security,tabs
- **Daily users:** 165
- **Weekly downloads:** 2
- **Rating:** 4.00 / 5 (8 ratings)
- **Version:** 0.8.53
- **Last updated:** 2025-08-21
- **First published:** 2020-03-26
- **Size:** 36 KB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-07
- **Store listing:** [Firefox Add-ons Store](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/auto-referer/)
- **Website:** [https://github.com/garywill/autoreferer](https://github.com/garywill/autoreferer)

## Description

Auto Referer is a Chrome extension designed to control HTTP referer headers to protect your online privacy without breaking web functionality. Unlike other add-ons, it addresses the persistent bug with JavaScript's `document.referrer` to provide up to 85% better protection using a special workaround. The extension smartly trims referer information based on the origin and target domains, ensuring seamless navigation and resource loading.

Features include fine-grained control over referer policies, a built-in allowlist to prevent site breakage caused by referer restrictions, and flexible disabling options per tab or window. It avoids relying on content scripts, instead using request cancellation and fresh requests for cross-domain navigation to hide `document.referrer` more reliably. Auto Referer is open-source and supports Chrome with features initially developed for Firefox. This extension balances privacy with user experience to keep your browsing secure and smooth.

## Rankings

- #9,061 — Overall
- #21 — reference
- #67 — auto
- #96 — break
- #115 — autogram
- #144 — autocomplete

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `webRequest`
- `webRequestBlocking`
- `*://*/*`
- `ws://*/*`
- `wss://*/*`
- `<all_urls>`
- `contextMenus`
- `tabs`
- `storage`

## Safety

- **Risk impact:** High risk impact
- **Risk likelihood:** Moderate risk likelihood

### Analysis details

- Allows access to all websites, posing a significant security risk as it can monitor and modify data from any visited site.
- This extension has low user count. Unpopular extensions may not be stable or safe.

> Some risk analysis details are omitted from this free response. [Upgrade to view the full analysis](https://chrome-stats.com/pricing).

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/auto-referer)