why do non-relative links appear in my access logs?
 

(The following are just examples...)

This is normal:

"/images/title.gif"
"/images/thumb1.jpg"
"/images/thumb2.jpg"
etc.

This is not normal:

"http://www.asdf.com/index.html"
"http://www.asdf.com/images/title.gif"
etc.

Why (and how) do links to other sites (not on my server) and links to other sites' images (also not on my server) show up in my access logs?!

Format c:













:1orglaugh

I always felt to dumb to ask. I never understand my server stats, but I just keep my mouth shut and like it's all good. (Thank god for KC, and FoxCounter)

Im not 100% but I think its an attempt to scan for worldopen proxies.

Or maybe they're on another site and click a bookmark? Not too sure myself...just a guess.

Have you ever had 1 ie browser window open and another minimized, if surfer "open a link in a new window" to your page from the maximized ie window it will recycle and open the new page in your minimised browser. So whatever page the minimized browser was on will show up as the referrer.

I think this is what causes the odd referring pages.

BV:
You may be right as far as that goes, but he's not talking about referers. This is about the entries in the log for the requested pages themselves.

And when these are for off-site files, they are proxy access attempts. If the return code is 404, there's no reason for concern. However, return codes of 200 require further investigation to determine if the server is properly configured or not. Unknowingly acting as a proxy for others is a "bad thing".

I never feel too dumb to ask anything. Are you more scared to look stupid or be stupid? I'm more scared of the latter.

Thanks fiveyes.

Exactly. These are requests from my server from a client (the surfer's computer) wanting my server to send them somthing it has; these are not referrering pages.

That's why this is normal: "/images/title.gif"
and this isn't: "http://www.notmyserver.com/index.html"

Half are 200 and half are 302 which are redirect requests or "moved temporarily", WTF?!

bump

Yea um... 4 posts in a row is a little much.... MMMK???

He's going for the dvd player. Leave em alone.

I'm here for answers. Any ideas?

fiveyes, hit me on ICQ or email please!