Hot linking??? (Full Version)

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card -> Hot linking??? (3/25/2005 17:28:55)

Sorry if this is in the wrong area but didn`t see where else to post it.
I have done my searching here and found some info, but my question is. . .

What am I looking for and where do I look for the evidence?
Logs? Page code?
Be gentle with me, I am still leaning.



jaybee -> RE: Hot linking??? (3/25/2005 17:49:08)

The best place to look is your logs.

Normally, if somebody visits a page, you will see the page and all the images on it logged against them. If they then go to another page, you'll see that plus all the images.

If all you see is an image listed and nothing more then likelihood is they're hotlinking. My stats allow me to click on the visitor link and it takes me to the page they came from. You can try looking down that page to see if your image is there or you can use your browser's View Source to bring up the page code and the do a Find to see if your web address appears anywhere.

An obvious hint that there is hotlinking going on is if your visitor numbers suddenly leap for no reason. Hotlinking to pictures seems to be common in forums where they can only link to pics already online. If it's a busy forum, every time someone visits the page your picture gets pulled and your numbers go bananas. One of my sites went from 5000 visitors in November to 15,000 in December. They were linking to one picture and using it as an avatar.



card -> RE: Hot linking??? (3/25/2005 18:16:34)

Thanks much!
I see lots of info.

Any recomendations on "free to cheap" fuctional apps to pull all the log data together for easier viewing.
I am hosting my web and don`t care to advertise for someone.



jaybee -> RE: Hot linking??? (3/26/2005 5:44:29)

I have these on my host and they're great.

http://awstats.sourceforge.net/



Reflect -> RE: Hot linking??? (3/26/2005 10:10:46)

Once you have the information next yioun will neede to stop the hot linking. What server platform are you on (Windows or Unix)?

Form that we can tell you how to block issues like this.

Take care,

Brian



card -> RE: Hot linking??? (3/26/2005 14:09:43)

Thanks Jaybee, I am looking for some realtime stats and that looks nice. I will give it a run.
I am test driving WebLog Expert Lite and it provides nice info, but not real time.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Reflect
Once you have the information next yioun will neede to stop the hot linking. What server platform are you on (Windows or Unix)?
Form that we can tell you how to block issues like this.


I am in the windows world.

Yes, now I need to start considering some of these other issues.
I am mostly concerned with the visitor having a nice experience while viewing my site and finding the information easily.
I do pay for my bandwith and don`t want anyone stilling it.

"Form that we can tell you how to block issues like this."

This is a good thing! thanks

My site has been out there or about 4 months as a "hobby site" (running under the radar, so to speak) to get some bugs worked out, but I would like to see it start to "work for me".



jaybee -> RE: Hot linking??? (3/26/2005 15:46:03)

The simplest way to block hotlinking is to use .htaccess which is what I did until recently when I had several reports from people saying they couldn't see any of the pictures on the site.

Several hours and many emails later, it became apparent that Norton Internet Security blocks all their details for security purposes and htaccess assumes they're not coming in via the proper route, so refuses to show anything.

If the user contacts you it is possible to guide them through setting NIS up to allow your site through but two problems:

1. They have to contact you and not just go away assuming all your links are broken

2. This assumes that they have enough knowledge to be able to get into the NIS settings in the first place.

I've now removed the .htaccess blocks and am using a php script which is amazing and allows NIS users in. I'm sure if you search the web you'll find an asp version.

As for the rest, worry about hotlinking last, get the site going first. Any help you need, we're all here. Post it in critiques when you're ready and you'll get plenty of suggestions.



card -> RE: Hot linking??? (4/3/2005 20:00:49)

quote:

.htaccess


Is this for systems other than Apache?
forgive my lack of knowing



jaybee -> RE: Hot linking??? (4/4/2005 6:55:51)

No, unfortunately .htaccess uses the mod-rewrite which works Apache only. You could try these

http://coldlink.com/

http://www.jdhodges.com/log/1309

http://www.iis-resources.com/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=67



BobbyDouglas -> RE: Hot linking??? (4/4/2005 12:17:47)

While we are on the topic of hotlinking, has anyone experienced different results with FireFox and IE when tried to enable hotlink protection?

I tried to enable protection on the swf extension, however the pages would not display in IE, but they would in FireFox.



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