Hello again.<br />
<br />
A few months back I saw an HTML code that literally prevents spammers from using a search program (I think it was referred to as a mole--please correct me if I am wrong, which I am pretty sure I am) to hunt down valid email addresses so they can be spammed. I am not very fond of leaving the email addresses on my site inactive (ie: non-linkable) and I also do not like the idea of putting NOSPAM in the link, or even breaking the link to prevent the spammers from sending their wares.<br />
<br />
I am pretty sure the code is HTML formatted, but I have been unable to find the source that published it (It was a local newspaper that published it--and they are reluctant to forward the information to me for whatever reason--hence my reason for asking here).<br />
<br />
Could someone please fill me in on what this code is and how to properly implement it? <br />
<br />
<br />
Thankx in advance.<!--content-->http://www.codehouse.com/online_tools/webmaster/email_obfuscator/<!--content-->Originally posted by brendandonhue <br />
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.codehouse.com/online_tools/webmaster/email_obfuscator/">http://www.codehouse.com/online_tools/w ... bfuscator/</a><!-- m --> Ah, thank you very much.
<br />
<br />
Just one more quick question though. Is there a way to do this manually? (I love learning these things myself, rather than relying on a program or external source **like the link above** to do it for me.)<!--content-->Actually the method above isn't the best way.<br />
In your mailto: links, replace the @ with &#64 and it will show up normal.<!--content-->The first thing to note is the the obfuscator uses JavaScript. JavaScript allows several ways to represent a character, such as its hexadecimal or octal number in the ASCII character set, or its hexadecimal number in the unicode encoding. For instancealert("A"); // literal<br />
alert("\x41"); // ASCII hexadecimal<br />
alert("\101"); // octal<br />
alert("\u0041"); // unicode hexadecimalSince bots don't take the time to parse any JavaScript (that I'm aware of) they see only the character for the escape sequence instead of the literal address.<br />
<br />
The downside is that people who don't have JavaScript enabled (either due to disabilities or personal choice) will get a dead link.<!--content-->Originally posted by brendandonhue <br />
Actually the method above isn't the best way.<br />
In your mailto: links, replace the @ with &#64 and it will show up normal. And (*Warning: Stupid Question ahead*) this should have the same desired effect, right?<!--content-->replace the @ with @ and it will show up normalthis should have the same desired effect, right?Probably. I would think there is a better chance of bots interpreting character entities than JavaScript, but the JavaScript will cause that part of your page to be inaccessable to a little more than 1 for every 10 people (approximately).<!--content-->I have seen the method used where you say mailto:somename(at)somedomain.com and then they say just type in the new email. Thats the most accurate method I suppose but its also a pain to your users (heaven forbid they have to change something) But a lot of the time they just wont see it or something like that.<!--content-->Have a look at <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.u.arizona.edu/~trw/spam/">http://www.u.arizona.edu/~trw/spam/</a><!-- m --> there are several approaches covered.<br />
<!--content-->neato!<!--content-->
<br />
A few months back I saw an HTML code that literally prevents spammers from using a search program (I think it was referred to as a mole--please correct me if I am wrong, which I am pretty sure I am) to hunt down valid email addresses so they can be spammed. I am not very fond of leaving the email addresses on my site inactive (ie: non-linkable) and I also do not like the idea of putting NOSPAM in the link, or even breaking the link to prevent the spammers from sending their wares.<br />
<br />
I am pretty sure the code is HTML formatted, but I have been unable to find the source that published it (It was a local newspaper that published it--and they are reluctant to forward the information to me for whatever reason--hence my reason for asking here).<br />
<br />
Could someone please fill me in on what this code is and how to properly implement it? <br />
<br />
<br />
Thankx in advance.<!--content-->http://www.codehouse.com/online_tools/webmaster/email_obfuscator/<!--content-->Originally posted by brendandonhue <br />
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.codehouse.com/online_tools/webmaster/email_obfuscator/">http://www.codehouse.com/online_tools/w ... bfuscator/</a><!-- m --> Ah, thank you very much.
<br /><br />
Just one more quick question though. Is there a way to do this manually? (I love learning these things myself, rather than relying on a program or external source **like the link above** to do it for me.)<!--content-->Actually the method above isn't the best way.<br />
In your mailto: links, replace the @ with &#64 and it will show up normal.<!--content-->The first thing to note is the the obfuscator uses JavaScript. JavaScript allows several ways to represent a character, such as its hexadecimal or octal number in the ASCII character set, or its hexadecimal number in the unicode encoding. For instancealert("A"); // literal<br />
alert("\x41"); // ASCII hexadecimal<br />
alert("\101"); // octal<br />
alert("\u0041"); // unicode hexadecimalSince bots don't take the time to parse any JavaScript (that I'm aware of) they see only the character for the escape sequence instead of the literal address.<br />
<br />
The downside is that people who don't have JavaScript enabled (either due to disabilities or personal choice) will get a dead link.<!--content-->Originally posted by brendandonhue <br />
Actually the method above isn't the best way.<br />
In your mailto: links, replace the @ with &#64 and it will show up normal. And (*Warning: Stupid Question ahead*) this should have the same desired effect, right?<!--content-->replace the @ with @ and it will show up normalthis should have the same desired effect, right?Probably. I would think there is a better chance of bots interpreting character entities than JavaScript, but the JavaScript will cause that part of your page to be inaccessable to a little more than 1 for every 10 people (approximately).<!--content-->I have seen the method used where you say mailto:somename(at)somedomain.com and then they say just type in the new email. Thats the most accurate method I suppose but its also a pain to your users (heaven forbid they have to change something) But a lot of the time they just wont see it or something like that.<!--content-->Have a look at <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.u.arizona.edu/~trw/spam/">http://www.u.arizona.edu/~trw/spam/</a><!-- m --> there are several approaches covered.<br />
<!--content-->neato!<!--content-->