[RESOLVED] http://redirectingat.com

[NotLKH]

I have a problem with non-site links on VBForums.

Whenever I click one of them, they reference redirectingat.com, which due to my companies usage of "Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security", I am blocked from getting to the target site.

I have not noticed this issue before, perhaps due to a recent update of TrendMicro, but how can I circumvent this problem?

For example, the link in this post:
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=573550
Points to http://inventorspot.com/articles/rus...or_chain_26262

but when I click it, or go to its properties, it is retranslated to the following:

http://redirectingat.com/?id=474X833...or_chain_26262

Interestingly, I might have resolved my issue just now.
If I go to the post view thread:
http://www.vbforums.com/showpost.php...34&postcount=1

the link does not retranslate, but remains a direct path to the target site.

Why is this?

-Lou

BTW, it also happens to the links in the VB Wire News box.

[visualAd]

Insteresting. I posted a Test here:

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=573607

The first URL begins with www. and it is not tranaslated. I ommited it from the second and it is. I smell a conspiricy

[visualAd]

I've done a bit of reasearch, it seems like a stealthy way to use us to generate more revneue for JM through their affiliates.

http://www.managingcommunities.com/2...our-community/

I'm not surprised that your filter blocks it out as the ethics is rather questionable and I am now considering developing a Fx script that retranslates them to what they should have been.

JM needs to rethink its marketing strategy and think twice about trying to impose underhand revenue generation tactics on a community of software developers. Disgraceful behaviour.

[NotLKH]

Insteresting. I posted a Test here:

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=573607

The first URL begins with www. and it is not tranaslated. I ommited it from the second and it is. I smell a conspiricy

Your first url, when clicked becomes:

http://redirectingat.com/?id=474X833...useisevil.com/

and its properties also indicate the same redirectingat link.


I hope you make it public when you make your Fx script.

[brad jones]

Hmmm. I didn't know we had implemented this, nor had I seen this before. I'll ask internally about it.

Thanks for the link VisaulAd for the post on what Skimlinks is. Of course, in reading it, I'm wondering what the big deal is. If our internal guys did implement this, it seems like one more way to keep the revenue coming to support the operations of this forum without shoving another huge or flyover ad into your faces. Help me understand (it is a Sunday night and I"ve been with the in-laws all day, so I'm a little "hazy in the head" right now, so help clarify for me) -- Where is the 'bad ethics' you guys are mentioning? Call me dense, but I don't really see the actual complaint is? Your links still link to the source.

Brad

[visualAd]

The same reason it is considered inaapropariate for any other user on this forum to post a link containing an affiliate or refer and disguise it. It is even in the AUP.

[NotLKH]

Hmmm. I didn't know we had impliminted this, nor had I seen this before. I'll ask internally about it.

...Call me dense, but I don't really see the actual complaint is? Your links still link to the source.

Brad

The original "complaint" was that certain security agents {TrendMicro} have www.redirectingat classified as a potentially harmful URL, and blocks all links that refer to it.

Therefore, I cannot even link directly to VBWire News articles, let alone external links in users posts.

In terms of VA's "Bad Ethics" observation, without notifying us users {And apparently TPTB about this} then it is very similar to hijacking someones efforts for someone elses benefit.

Perhaps a user option could be put in place to disable the redirect if a user has issues with this?

[Shaggy Hiker]

Why does this make any money? I noticed the RedirectingAt and still didn't pay more. Had I clicked on an ad, would it have caused revenue to flow to JM? Does a link in a thread cause ANYTHING?

[JPnyc]

The original "complaint" was that certain security agents {TrendMicro} have www.redirectingat classified as a potentially harmful URL, and blocks all links that refer to it.

Therefore, I cannot even link directly to VBWire News articles, let alone external links in users posts.

In terms of VA's "Bad Ethics" observation, without notifying us users {And apparently TPTB about this} then it is very similar to hijacking someones efforts for someone elses benefit.

Perhaps a user option could be put in place to disable the redirect if a user has issues with this?

false positives are not uncommon. On our general PC troubleshooting forum, even the well respected ESET NOD32 antivirus went off like a bomb whenever somebody using it opened a thread in our hijack this forum. Now there was nothing remotely harmful in that thread, merely the name of some Malware on a user's computer, which appeared in his hijack this log. So this highly respected antivirus reacted to mere text as though it were the actual executable.

[brucevde]

I have encountered problems using a website which was accessed from a link that has gone through redirectingat.com. The links on that page no longer worked.

FYI. If you are using IE8 it has a feature called InPrivate Filtering (found under the Safety button). Basically it lets you block websites from sending your browsing habits to other sites which collect statistical info. Sites like google-analytics, doubleclick.net and skimlinks.com.

Note though if you use this feature and the option "Disable Script Debugging in IE" is off and have development software like Visual Studio, you most likely will get a "Do you want to debug this webpage" on every page visited at VB Forums.

For me, the cool part about using this new IE feature is the huge performance increase when browsing VB Forums...

[brad jones]

Just an update - Trendmicro does trip on the affiliate redirection that is being used. This is due to a known problem and work is being done to address the so that the links will work.

I agree with you guys that the links should work and get you where you are expecting.

We are working to make sure that this is smoothed out.

Brad!

[mendhak]

I've noticed it. I see other sites do it too (Google, Yahoo as well) though and if this helps to prevent VBF from looking like CG Forums, then I'm for it. (Sorry brad)

[brad jones]

I've learned quite a bit about skimlinks the last day or two. It seems that this is extremely common and that we are way down the list on those that have added this type of program on our site. I'd go as far as saying it is becoming pretty "standard operating procedure" for most major sites.

My concern is the broken links issue and that is being fixed.

And I agree Mendhak - anything that keeps the pages cleaner is a good thing.

Brad!

[NotLKH]

Brad!

Good job!

The redirect now seems to work without issue.

-Thanks
-Lou