Punished by cloaking? [Archive]

foxladi

06-14-2006, 06:54 PM

Hi

Joel writes in his book that Google has banned cloaking of pages.

I have used it for cloaking a click-bank link like this:

http://www.netpenge.info/dir/adsensesecrets.html

If I publish this link, would that mean that Google will bann my page www.netpenge.info (http://www.netpenge.info)?

Reprobate

06-15-2006, 09:23 AM

Hi

Joel writes in his book that Google has banned cloaking of pages.

I have used it for cloaking a click-bank link like this:

http://www.netpenge.info/dir/adsensesecrets.html

If I publish this link, would that mean that Google will bann my page www.netpenge.info (http://www.netpenge.info)?
I haven't read Joel's book yet (I'll have to go check my PO Box and see if it's arrived yet from amazon).

I take it you mean URL cloaking?

Reprobate

06-15-2006, 09:26 AM

Just out of curiosity, did you know you have some javascript in your top frame?

<html><head><script language="javascript">

</script></head>
<frameset rows="0,*" cols="*" frameborder="0" framespacing="0"><frame src=""><frame src="adsensesecrets_files/a.htm"></frameset>
<noframes><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
</body></noframes></html>

foxladi

06-15-2006, 09:28 AM

It arrrived here in France very fast. A few days ... but I also have his ebook, of course ;-)

Yes, I guess I mean URL cloaking.

You know in stead of www.something.com?hop=clickbank-foxladi (or whatever), I could use www.somethingelse.com/dir/thisisagreatsite.html

URL cloaking in order to not have clickbank thefts.

foxladi

06-15-2006, 09:32 AM

Just out of curiosity, did you know you have some javascript in your top frame?

<html><head><script language="javascript">

</script></head>
<frameset rows="0,*" cols="*" frameborder="0" framespacing="0"><frame src=""><frame src="adsensesecrets_files/a.htm"></frameset>
<noframes><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
</body></noframes></html>

Yes, I think that's the way the URL is cloaked.

I haven't tried, but I know you can read code like "%3c%68%74%6d%6c%3e%0a%09" in clear text. And that would probably give the real URL.

Reprobate

06-15-2006, 09:56 AM

Yes, I think that's the way the URL is cloaked.

I haven't tried, but I know you can read code like "%3c%68%74%6d%6c%3e%0a%09" in clear text. And that would probably give the real URL.
You might want to check all the pages on your site if that has happened elsewhere.

I had a probably with malacious javascript code infecting my entire site. And it looked a lot like that.

It doesn't need that bit of javascript to cloak. Check your original file and compare it.

Even if it is in your original file try making a copy of it, and delete the javascript and reupload it. It will still work properly.

foxladi

06-15-2006, 10:11 AM

I checked the code, and there is only a javascript in the file.

<HTML><HEAD><SCRIPT LANGUAGE="javascript">

</SCRIPT></HEAD></HTML>

Normally, I don't like javascripts, because I don't understand them. I prefer PHP. But here I can see a reason to use it, though it's not perfect.

But if Google punish the use of it? Then I would rather miss the affiliate money from Clickbank and others.

Reprobate

06-17-2006, 05:13 AM

I checked the code, and there is only a javascript in the file.

<HTML><HEAD><SCRIPT LANGUAGE="javascript">

</SCRIPT></HEAD></HTML>

Normally, I don't like javascripts, because I don't understand them. I prefer PHP. But here I can see a reason to use it, though it's not perfect.

But if Google punish the use of it? Then I would rather miss the affiliate money from Clickbank and others.
What I'm saying is, the html code can function without it. I have found instances of similar code to that and it could be malacious.

The server could be infected.

I've seen it happen to my web host and a few others.

I'm saying check it out. Do you have the original files on your PC? Is it in there? If not then the pages you have uploaded have been infected AFTER you've uploaded it.

Check and see if you have any additional folders in your online directories too. And if there are pages that you haven't uploaded.

What I'm saying is the security of your webhost could have been violated.

I'm not trying to be a scaremonger. Just that 1) it looks like the problem I had and 2) the javascript isn't there for the purposes of cloaking, so why is it there?

foxladi

06-21-2006, 06:18 AM

Hi Reprobate

Thank for your concern.

I got the cloaking script here for free: affiliate link cloaker (http://mywebmasterinabox.com/affiliate_link_cloaker.php).

I cannot think it contains evil code, but I'm a bit worried after your messages here.

RKramkowski

11-01-2006, 11:36 PM

Sooo... I'm not sure but I think the answer is to not use URL cloaking?

Mytigodess

11-02-2006, 07:16 AM

I have never been a big fan of the URL mask script. Most out there are incorrect by W3C standards, others are merely re-direct scripts which could punish your site in some search engines.

The only logical reason given to get a mask is to prevent people from stealing your commissions. The problem with that argument is the one doing it are the ones who already have accounts with Clickbank (and other companies set up like it) who have just as much access to the same program you are selling. They were not your customers in the first place and always have been your competition.

These same people could have easily gone to the Clickbank directory to find the same product and generate the URL for their own credit. Just the mere fact they found out about it on your site is not a guarantee that they would have bought it on the first mention. It takes many exposures before a person decides to buy. Just because they saw it first on your site does not mean you sold them on the idea to buy it. What of the people who think about it before making a purchase or do not have the money right away to buy it?

Really the reason affiliate commissions are down is more about security products which delete cookies more often. More people are now aware they have the option to clear up that trail and with security software in place that can delete cookies on a daily or weekly or monthly basis automatically, chances are you will be losing customers in that method because not everyone who see a product the first time around buys it. They may bookmark the real sales page minus your cookie information and you lose the credit.

The loss comes in because the cookies given by affiliate programs can expire in a reasonable period of time. Some have 30 day cookies and others over a year. In theory, if someone clicks on your unique tracking URL and buys the products within the time period, you get the credit. However, if a security software such as Zone Alarm automatically cleans up your cookies on a daily basis (and there are so many cookies exposed in that clean up that would make it hard to protect your specific cookie out of the many) then you lose that cookie instantly. If that person goes direct to the web site and buys a product, you do not get the credit.

Other affiliate programs such as LinkShare and Commission Junction have such long URLs which are not obvious, but could technically be hijacked by your competions. Real customers have nothing to gain by robbing you of your commission only your competition does. It is better not to do something to your page that might screw up the experience your real customer will have than to be overly paranoid about your competition.

One recommendation would be to create a bookmark this page script, but use your unique affiliate URL which would go directly to that sales page where you would get the credit. Just check with the specific affiliate program because not all approve of the bookmark script.

Another loss you might be unable to do anything about are those who block ads. It can block most affiliate ads including the Adsense scripts so when they visit web sites all advertising disappears and they see only the content. There are a growing number of Internet savvy people who know how to do this.

The best thing you can do is make sure your site and offer is the best it can be. Offer daily or weekly updates to make them want to come back. Build up a mailing list with real content they want to read where you can present a good offer. Affiliate masking is quite frankly a waste of time.

Elizabeth

11-02-2006, 09:37 AM

Foxladi, I could be mistaken, but it sounds like you're dealing with two entirely separate issues. The javascript may be unrelated to your link cloaking situation. Is that what you suggested, Reprobate? If so, I'm going to check my own site for the same thing (something fishy may be going on).