How to use custom referer in Wget

Wget is a popular command-line utility primarily used for downloading content from the web. Occasionally, certain websites may restrict or block content access based on the HTTP referer. This is often done as a means to prevent hotlinking or to ensure content is only accessed from specific sources.

In these situations, it becomes necessary to specify or fake the HTTP referer when making a request, essentially informing the server that the request originated from a specific page. Fortunately, Wget offers a simple option to set a custom referer, allowing you to bypass such restrictions or emulate specific browsing scenarios.

Using a custom referer with Wget can be beneficial when scripting or automating tasks. However, it's important to always respect the terms of service of the website and ensure ethical behavior when accessing content.

1. Open the terminal.
2. Use the –referer option followed by the desired referer URL when executing Wget.

   $ wget --referer=http://example.com/referer-page/ http://targetwebsite.com/download/file.zip

   This command tells Wget to download file.zip from targetwebsite.com, but to inform the server that the request is coming from http://example.com/referer-page/.

3. Check the downloaded content to ensure it's the desired file or page.
4. For more complex scenarios, combine the –referer option with other Wget options.

   $ wget --referer=http://example.com/referer-page/ --user-agent="Custom User Agent" --header="Custom-Header: Value" http://targetwebsite.com/download/file.zip

   Always be cautious when downloading content from unknown sources and avoid infringing copyrights or terms of service of websites.

5. To use the custom referer within scripts or automated tasks, integrate the command with other scripts or tools as needed.
6. For continued or repeated tasks, consider creating a shell alias or a simple script to streamline the process.

Remember, while setting a custom referer can help bypass certain restrictions, always use this technique ethically and in compliance with the terms and conditions of the website you're accessing.