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Old 11-23-2014, 11:37 AM   #1
Arcosanti
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Anyone know of an easy way to switch User Agent strings in IceCat?


I use the GNU rebranded version of Firefox known as IceCat and have the User Agent set to make IceCat look like a Windows version of Firefox. I do so as I visit certain survey sites that require a Windows browser to take the survey. So I use the User Agent in about:config to do it as the User Agent plugin doesn't work. Does anyone know of a fast way to turn on and off the User Agent override without having to go into about:config to do it? Like maybe a bash script or something.
 
Old 11-23-2014, 07:45 PM   #2
frankbell
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If Firefox Extensions work with IceCat, there are a number of Firefox extensions for managing your user agent string. I have tested User Agent Switcher and it works nicely.

Konqueror has a built-in user agent changer. I noticed it the other day. It's under Tools-->Change Browser Idenfication. I just tested it with whatismyuseragent.com and it seems to work. You can add to it under Settings-->Configure Konqueror-->Web Browsing.
 
Old 11-23-2014, 09:15 PM   #3
Arcosanti
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The User Agent Switcher plugin does not work. These survey web sites are able to see right through it. The built in override in about:config does work however. So far only one site saw through it somehow and that was about a year and a half ago. They probably had my browswer finger printed before I did the user agent override. Pretty much all of the other sites see it as I put in the user agent override.

I think I have a solution though. The about:config settings are stored in /home/my_user_name/.mozilla/icecat/thenameoftheprofile/prefs.js. I should be able to make a simple script to swap between two different prefs.js. I just have to make sure the browser is shutdown first or else IceCat will just change it back when it does shut down. Also the changes don't take effect until the broswer is restarted anyway.

As for the other plugins, I'm not familiar with them and I don't like Konqueror to much.

Last edited by Arcosanti; 11-23-2014 at 09:47 PM.
 
Old 11-24-2014, 12:39 AM   #4
Arcosanti
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Looks like I was a bit off on the path. I forgot that later versions of IceCat use /.mozilla while earlier versions use /.gnuzilla. I made my scripts and modified them for the correct path. This post should show up as Windows XP.
 
Old 11-24-2014, 12:40 AM   #5
Arcosanti
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And this post should show up as Slackware.

---------- Post added 11-23-14 at 11:41 PM ----------

Ok I'll consider this thread solved.
 
Old 11-24-2014, 08:01 PM   #6
frankbell
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Cool.
 
  


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