comparing http_referer against http_host

Hi I need to check whether the http_referer is the same site as the current site.

I have the following code

Dim strReferer As String

strReferer = Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_REFERER")
If strReferer.Contains(Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_HOST")) then
   'do task
End If

This is throwing up an error saying - "Object reference not set to an instance of an object." 开发者_运维知识库and flagging the if line as the offending line of code.

Any ideas where I'm going wrong?

MY SOLUTION:

strReferer = "" & Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_REFERER")

Means the string always has a value even if it's nothing.

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Because HTTP_REFERER is not always populated - only if you have clicked a link. So if you browse directly to a page, that header will be empty.

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It's possible for Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_REFERER") to be null, so you should check for this when assigning the variable.

If Not String.IsNullOrEmpty(Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_REFERER"))
    'do your stuff