Remove specific pages from browser history and back button with javascript?

Question

Situation:

I have a sensitive website about domestic violence with an EXIT button that directly links to Google. So that anyone visiting that website can quickly jump to Google if the visitor feels unsafe or uncomfortable.

I would love to be able to clear any references to this website from bot the history list and the back button functionality. Basically, remove any proof of visiting that website. Keep in mind that not all people know how to browse anonymous and some people just cannot even get out of the house to browse the internet. Yes, this scenario is for seriously bad situations.

I've tried using location.replace instead of regular links to keep them from being saved into the history, but they just keep being saved in the history.

I've also tried to use browser.history.deleteUrl({url:"https://thewebsite"}), but this gives error on browser being undefined.

Is this even possible from a website? Or are there other options? Thanks for thinking with me!

Answer 1

As you state in the question, you can use window.location.replace() to prevent your site from appearing in the window’s history (back button). Of course, this only works if your site had only one entry in the window’s history to begin with.

As you also state, there is a bigger problem: this does not prevent the site from appearing in the browser’s history. I believe you cannot solve this problem with scripts on your website: you need some external solution, like a browser extension.

(This does not really answer your question, but you could try using URLs and titles that disguise the nature of your site. I have heard of that being done with this sort of resource.)

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In response to my idea of disguises, someone asked for examples and asked about discoverability. I was referring to the Aspire News App, featured on Dr Phil’s TV show. On that show, they made a big deal out of not showing what the app looked like, to avoid tipping off abusers. They also said the app is disguised as an ordinary app.

When I was researching this answer, I learned that disguises are indeed a terrible idea. I had no trouble finding information about the app online, and one review said the app is “pointless” because “with all of the media cpverage this app has gotten sbusers know exactly what it is and what to look for”.

I also learned that the app still had a fundamental security flaw 7 years after it was released. This shows that even supposedly reputable apps, dealing with sensitive matters, cannot be trusted. And perhaps it means that supposedly reputable websites looking to hide themselves from the browser’s history cannot be trusted either.