You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (Full Version)

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gorilla -> You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (2/14/2004 17:50:12)

Something which bedevils all webmasters is the existence and activities of email harvester bots sent out by spammers.

To see a screenshot of something to that looks like perfectly ordinary text click on the thumbnail below, which is an extract from a screenshot taken of Internet explorer.

[image]local://upfiles/2870/Tq485514814.gif[/image]

It looks perfectly ordinary doesn't it?

The next posting shows the code that the spambots will see.



gorilla -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (2/14/2004 17:51:11)

This screenshot shows the code that will be read by the bots.

[image]local://upfiles/2870/Vt584323102.gif[/image]

Or as the thumbnail doesn't seem very clear this:

moc.niamodelpmaxe@uoy



gorilla -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (2/14/2004 18:51:41)

The css code is this:

.backwards {
font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial; Lucida, Sans-Serif;
font-size:1.5em ;
color: #800000;
unicode-bidi: bidi-override;
direction: rtl;
}


The html code on your page would be this:

<p>Why not email me at <span

class="backwards">moc.niamodelpmaxe@uoy</span></p>

<p>Why not email me at </p>

<p class="backwards">moc.niamodelpmaxe@uoy</p>

Right let us now proceed to the faqs [:)]

<edited_by_gorilla>edit reason: EEK! Corrected an absolutely horrid typing error which fortunately nobody seems to have noticed. Scarlet faced gorilla runs from the room before people start to laugh and point.</edited_by_gorilla>



gorilla -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (2/14/2004 19:02:41)

FAQs



  • Yes it seems to have been 100% successful so far.
  • Yes it validates.
  • No it doesn't have to be in an embedded style sheet linked is fine.
  • Yes it works in Internet Explorer, Mozilla, and Opera.
  • Yes I tested in the windows versions of those browsers. Latest versions for each but I can't think of any reason why shouldn't work in any css aware browser with the possible exception of NN4.x
  • Yes it is entirely possible that other people have thought of it too. But this one is my version and as I say it has been 100% successful so far.
  • No it doesn't have to be xhtml strict. I've tested in all the html 4.x dtds and it works fine.
  • Same goes for xhtml dtds.
  • Personally I think it works easiest as a span. But then I'm lazy [:)].
  • Yes you'll have to position it in a div if you don't use it in a span. That's why I've showed you what happens when you don't position as the result of applying the class to a <p> tag.
  • Yes bobby applying it to the body tag works fine and it would indeed be a great April fool joke to play on any client who really likes you, is very forgiving, and is guaranteed 100% non-violent [:)]
  • Youv'e got to be joking. No I'm not going to give you the URL for the domain I keep as a "victim domain." I'm plagued enough by script kiddies at it as things stand.
  • Anyway the hosting manager would kill me.
  • Yes you can freely copy it.[:)]
  • Enjoy I hope you find it useful.[:)]




Peppergal -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (2/16/2004 14:45:25)

All I can say is...wow!



c1sissy -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (2/16/2004 14:56:53)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Peppergal

All I can say is...wow!


The great furry one can sure blow your mind with information cant he? I dont understand one bit of this, but know that it is something good![;)]



bobby -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (3/2/2004 14:40:49)

Now that's handy...

Thanks M



gorilla -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (3/2/2004 15:04:47)

you're welcome :-) I'm looking at ways of expanding its usefulness. So I'll keep you posted.



BobbyDouglas -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (3/2/2004 18:05:25)

Very interesting method of tricking something with CSS.

Reminds me of the people who make their key words H1 tags, and apply the default H1 tag as being the normal font- in order to get better SE reults [;)]



bobby -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (3/3/2004 12:34:45)

Only this won't get you banned from Google or Yahoo... [;)]



tinaalice -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (10/29/2004 17:51:44)

It does work I tested it and used
http://willmaster.com/possibilities/demo/RetrieveEmails.cgi
to check it.

That's two methods that are working.

The other is outlined here.
http://accessfp.net/protect-your-email-address.htm

A little trick to add to the Gorilla tip is to add a title tag letting your visitor know they have to copy and paste the email in order to use it. These two methods work for accessbility which I prefer to use rather than a JS method which is not. If someone can't take a couple of seconds to copy and paste your email link, do you really need to speak to them?

I'll be adding a link here unless Mháircaish would like a direct link to his own site if you have this tip there Mháircaish?

Tina



bnavis -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (11/3/2004 14:00:06)


quote:

ORIGINAL: c1sissy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Peppergal

All I can say is...wow!


The great furry one can sure blow your mind with information cant he? I dont understand one bit of this, but know that it is something good![;)]


diddo



CapnCook -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (11/3/2004 15:57:06)

quote:

It does work I tested it and used
http://willmaster.com/possibilities/demo/RetrieveEmails.cgi
to check it.


Tina: Your script finds 2 address on my site www.searoom.com - one that I know about and which doesn't matter, but the other is my own address which does bother me. I had it coded JS but removed that after reading your accessibility comments, and changed it to the <code></code> example. Your script still finds my own address - I've searched high and low and can't find another instance .... would be great if your script showed the actual URL of the address occurence.

(Stockport, eh? I spent my first 22 years in Sale, Cheshire)



demonceau -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (11/3/2004 16:16:59)

Neat trick. There is also a nice way to defeat spammers' bots and spiders : you convert the "mailto:etc..." address to Unicode. Of course, it won't last, but it seems rather good for the time being.
http://www.pinnacledisplays.com/unicode-converter.htm is hosting the necessary tool



tinaalice -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (11/3/2004 17:24:18)

-Demonceau it hasn't lasted- read
http://accessfp.net/protect-your-email-address.htm

-Captain Cook - you may have encoded some other emails on the homepage with <code> </code> however you have NOT repeat NOT encoded all of them. I found the two emails you talk about and they are not encoded. I suggest you make a test page.

/*
Add-to-favorites Script
Created by David Gardner (blank@blank.com)
*/

(amended to protect your email addy)

Here is one addy.

Here is the other.

<a href="mailto:blank@blank.com">

(amended to protect your email addy)

Which has the kind of code I talk about in my article which WON'T work.

Try that test page I think you will find both my way and Gorilla's work very nicely and are accessible :)

Tina







Anklebuster -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (11/6/2004 11:21:24)

quote:

ORIGINAL: tinaalice

It does work I tested it and used
http://willmaster.com/possibilities/demo/RetrieveEmails.cgi
to check it.
:
:
Tina


I don't know how to delete posts, so I am inserting an "Oh, never mind..." I see that willmaster looks for addresses in the html.
I still would like to know if using * on domain names is a bad idea

How do you use willmaster? I typed in my url, and it said no email addresses were found. However, I regularly get spam addressed to sales@myhomeschooling.net and that site isn't even active!
Of course, I have set up the domain name so that i can use anything as an email. Does that invite more spammers, or does it not matter?



tinaalice -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (11/6/2004 21:52:23)

Is your whois blocked for the domain blocked? That's once source, Because your email is not on your site that just means that is one source it can't be found. You could have used it on a list a forum signed up for nl's and a dozen other things. Yes using catchall gives you more spam.

"Using *" ... sorry I don't understand?

You just put the domain and file name of the page you want to check into the box and press ok.

hope this helps.

Tina



Anklebuster -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (11/7/2004 3:10:03)

quote:

ORIGINAL: tinaalice

Is your whois blocked for the domain blocked? That's once source, Because your email is not on your site that just means that is one source it can't be found. You could have used it on a list a forum signed up for nl's and a dozen other things. Yes using catchall gives you more spam.

"Using *" ... sorry I don't understand?

Tina

At registersite.com, when setting up email, you have the option to forward all email to a specific mail server. their notation is*@yourdomain.com

Thanks for the willmaster info.



CapnCook -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (11/17/2004 15:56:43)

quote:

Here is one addy.

Here is the other.

<deleted>

Which has the kind of code I talk about in my article which WON'T work.


Darned if I can find that instance - FP's search tool can't locate it, Google can't locate it either. Can you tell me which page you find it on?



tinaalice -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (11/17/2004 16:33:48)

It's right under your javascript if you look in the code

<tr>
<td valign="top" align="center" colspan="3"> <p><font face="Arial"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 9pt"><font color="#0000FF" face="Arial" size="2"><b>
<a href="mailto:blank@blank.com">
</a></b></font></span></font>
<p> </td>
</tr>

That's why you have the two emails still coming up one is in the favourites code and the other is as above... remember you don't have to see it on the page ... the bots can see it in the html it's coming up because the encoded bit @ can be seen by search bots.

The css workaround really is neat but I prefer my way it's quick and easy to do ;)

hth Tina



CapnCook -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (11/17/2004 17:31:15)

quote:

That's why you have the two emails still coming up one is in the favourites code and the other is as above... remember you don't have to see it on the page ... the bots can see it in the html it's coming up because the encoded bit @ can be seen by search bots.


Tina: I removed all relevant code on the <contact.htm> page, which is where I presume you found the address. I also found another instance where I had used the ascii code on another page - removed that. I have substituted a form using NateMail.php which does not reveal the address. Having uploaded the new pages, I still find your form reports the same two email addresses and I just cannot find where you are finding the skipper address (the other one I don't care about).

I edited my messages above to remove the skipper email address - I'd appreciate it if you would do the same in your replies, as I discovered Google can see those addresses in clear, so the robots also must see them.



tinaalice -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (11/17/2004 17:37:01)

will do ....

I used your domain straight ... so it's the homepage it's on. Open up the source start from the bottom .... the email code comes first in the html then your script for the one you have visible in the browser.

If you still can't find it I'll colour it in with a screen shot for you and send it directly .... I have a few email addy's of yours that I can use to do that <grin>

Tina



halabourda -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (12/6/2004 20:04:56)

Hi,
Yes, the text is backwards on my test page in the design view and so is the html, but I see that the actual <a href="mailto:email address"> is not backwards in the html. Does this matter? Will the email harvesters pass over this and not pick it up? Have I done something wrong? Am I even supposed to be hyperlinking to a live email address?

Thank you

Brian



ou812 -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (12/6/2004 21:45:32)

Brian,

My understanding, and how I've done it with success, is that you should not have the email link. I used the backwards CSS for a display ONLY of my email address and then have made a contact page (and linked to it with at different places in my site) if they wish to not send via their own email.

The harvesters will pick up the <a href="mailto:email address"> so best not to have them in there at all



jaybee -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (1/25/2005 10:37:15)

As a footnote to this, whilst the backwards css emails work very well and seem to completely remove the spam issue, there is a problem that was overlooked.

Text readers don't implement the css and anyone using one will just get the email address backwards.

Tinas <code> example works but if you want the safest method then don't put the address on at all. Set up a feedback form.

This also has the advantage of enabling people who use web mail only to contact you. mailto won't work if they don't have an email client set up on their machine.



BobbyDouglas -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (5/29/2005 4:11:02)

Ah, brining up a pretty old thread here, again. How would this be useful if you want to have your e-mail address an actual link? It doesn't seem like this method would work.

I have been using javascript for the longest time to hide my address, I noticed very little spam too- so I know it works. Pretty soon I bet spam bots will learn the trick of using unicode.

I guess I will just stick to using javascript for now, but it sure would be nice to have a better solution.



d a v e -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (5/29/2005 4:36:01)

i've been using this
http://www.pinnacledisplays.com/unicode-converter.htm

i've had no spam so far and i've had a test page up for a while http://members.tiscali.fi/dave_pirjo/test-area/spamtest.htm



tinaalice -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (5/29/2005 11:56:34)

http://willmaster.com/possibilities/demo/RetrieveEmails.cgi

That just means the bots have not been around your way yet .... but your emails are NOT protected put your link into the above url and press check.

Tina



tinaalice -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (5/29/2005 12:11:21)

At the moment bots don't seem to know how to get around js.. but they certainly know how to get around unicode .. just because no spam has been recieved, all this means is the bots have not been around to his particular page yet. Javascript is not good for accessibility, and for those with it turned off ... so you eliminate a portion - at least those that can't read js because they have to use a reader or other software, that's fine if your not bothered about that sort of thing. There is a acceptable accessible solution though and the bots don't see it (at the moment) ...  read the rest of the thread for the link.

Tina



ou812 -> RE: You can use css to help defeat spam harvester botsbots (5/29/2005 12:45:09)

quote:

How would this be useful if you want to have your e-mail address an actual link? It doesn't seem like this method would work.


Correct Mr. Bob, you can't have it as an actual email link. I use this method for having my email address redirect to a contact page. So, they can fill out the contact page, or manually type in the email address into their email program.



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