How to Send a HAR File for Advertisement Blocking Support

Overview

If you see an advertisement on your site that should be blocked, the fastest way for us to investigate is usually to capture the ad’s click-through URL. 

In most cases, you can do this by right-clicking on the ad, copying the link address or click-through URL, and sending that to our team. 

See here for our documentation on this approach.

However, some ads are served through multiple redirects, third-party systems, or rotating advertiser paths. In those cases, the visible click-through URL may not give us everything we need to fully identify and block the advertiser. When that happens, our team may ask you to send us a HAR file.

A HAR file is a browser network log that captures what loaded on the page, including ad-related requests, redirects, and other technical details. This gives our team a more complete view of how the ad was delivered so we can further investigate and escalate the issue if needed.

Before You Start

Please try to capture the HAR file while the unwanted ad is visible on the page.

A few important notes:

• HAR files can include page activity from your browser session.
• Please avoid capturing the HAR while logged into sensitive accounts or while viewing private information.
• If possible, use a fresh browser window or an incognito/private window.
• Once the unwanted ad appears, capture the HAR file and send it to EmpowerLocal Support.

How to Download a HAR File in Google Chrome

1. Open the page where the unwanted ad appeared.
2. Right-click anywhere on the page and select Inspect.
3. In the panel that opens, click the Network tab.
4. Make sure the recording button is active. It usually appears as a red circle in the upper-left area of the Network panel.
5. Check the box for Preserve log.
6. Click the clear button, usually shown as a circle with a slash or trash icon, to clear the current network activity.
7. Refresh the page.
8. Wait for the unwanted ad to appear again.
9. Once the ad is visible, click the download/export icon in the Network panel.
10. Choose Export HAR or Save all as HAR.
11. Save the file to your computer.
12. Send the HAR file to EmpowerLocal Support, along with a screenshot of the ad and the page URL.

How to Download a HAR File in Microsoft Edge

1. Open the page where the unwanted ad appeared.
2. Right-click anywhere on the page and select Inspect.
3. Click the Network tab.
4. Make sure network recording is turned on.
5. Select Preserve log.
6. Clear the current network activity.
7. Refresh the page.
8. Wait for the unwanted ad to appear again.
9. Once the ad is visible, select the export/download option in the Network panel.
10. Save the file as a HAR file.
11. Send the HAR file to EmpowerLocal Support, along with a screenshot of the ad and the page URL.

How to Download a HAR File in Firefox

1. Open the page where the unwanted ad appeared.
2. Right-click anywhere on the page and select Inspect.
3. Click the Network tab.
4. Look for the settings option and enable Persist Logs if available.
5. Clear the current network activity.
6. Refresh the page.
7. Wait for the unwanted ad to appear again.
8. Once the ad is visible, right-click inside the Network request list.
9. Select Save All As HAR.
10. Save the file to your computer.
11. Send the HAR file to EmpowerLocal Support, along with a screenshot of the ad and the page URL.

What to Send to EmpowerLocal

When submitting the issue, please include:

• The HAR file
• A screenshot of the unwanted ad
• The page URL where the ad appeared
• The approximate date and time the ad appeared
• Your browser and device type
• Any click-through URL you were able to copy from the ad

Why This Helps

A screenshot tells us what the ad looks like.

A click-through URL often tells us who the advertiser is.

A HAR file gives us the technical path the ad used to load on the page.

That additional detail can be important when an ad is delivered through multiple vendors, redirects, or campaign paths. With the HAR file, our team has a better chance of identifying the source of the ad, applying the correct block, and escalating the issue through the appropriate demand channels when needed.

Need Help?

If you have trouble creating the HAR file, send us the screenshot, page URL, and any click-through URL you can capture, our team can help guide you from there.