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 Are you sick and tired of people hotlinking to your website
images, or other resources?
Does your host provider monitor and charge for bandwidth consumption, which
means that you
can actually loose money as a result of hotlinking?
Do you become agitated or upset when you see that your web logs contain erroneous
statistics because of the hotlinking trespasses against your server?
To put this simply ... hotlinking attacks can best be described as: having
your neighbors s-t-r-e-t-c-h YOUR garden hose over to their house to water their
lawns, wash their cars, and fill their pools!
Although there is a simple solution to the problem of hotlinking, unfortunately, the solution itself presents new problems!
(doh!)
Below is a brief summary of these
minor issues to consider ...
1 ) This solution will NOT work for Windows Web Servers. Fortunately, this does not present a
real problem for the VAST majority of web host providers, which actually use other types of
Operating Systems. It is hard to imagine someone trusting a Microsoft product to be their
web server anyway. (grin)
2 ) It is possible, although highly unlikely, that a REAL visitor to your website could be presented with a
pre-defined error image. However unlikely this problem is to occur, the FAULT is actually with your VISITOR somehow. Generally, the only way such an unusual conflict
could even occur, is that if your visitor has tweaked their computer settings and connection information to
HIDE or LIE about their identity and true point of origin. Personally, this sounds just like the type of
people (hackers, corporate spies, terrorists, etc.) that I would try to discourage from visiting my website
anyway, AND, however possible!
3 ) The problem outlined by #2 requires a personalized error image to display. Unfortunately, not everyone has a graphic artist working for them to whip something up. Although some of you may know a friend
that is willing to invest a couple hours for a 6-pack of beer, a professionally designed image could run up to $150.00
(ouch!)
4 )
The investment of time needed to research and fully implement this type of security counter measure for your own
website's protection.
The truly GREAT news is ... all this protection also extends to
more than just your images, you can also protect any other files you desire (audio,
video, cgi-scripts, electronic newsletters, etc).
So, what is the easiest solution to all these problems? I'm glad I asked!
The FREE solution is to simply copy the example image that I'm displaying, then have your
graphic artist de-compile my original for your own purposes. I therefore
officially relinquish all copyrights to this customized hotlink image and its context, so that you are free to edit and build upon the overall concept to
suit your own unique situation. (Use our FREE hotlink tester below to verify
your protection, both before, and then after adding your new security.)
My low-cost solution, for only $40, is to customize the URL of my own hotlink image, to reflect your domain name.
(The reason this is IMPORTANT is ... you do not want
anyone to accidentally assume that your website is stealing images
and bandwidth from someone else!) Also provided are all the customized configuration files and installation instructions
that you need, so you can start this new protection within minutes of receipt. (Simply
upload 3 files to your web server, and your protection begins INSTANTLY!)
My next solution, for $80 (only when necessary), is to customize the wording to my
client's own specifications.
Although our wording has been carefully chosen for maximum effect, and clarity of
purpose, I can also
alter the wording or color scheme for additional customization.
Note: Most hotlink images found on the Internet are either ineffective, downright VULGAR,
or SEXUALLY offensive in their attempts to make themselves MORE effective. Subsequently, I
will not
add offensive language or images, regardless of the higher compensation! Although
everyone's intention is to only target the scum bags who literally suck the resources from
our websites and our pocketbooks ( always remember problem #2 ), it is possible that others might accidentally see this information which
could make someone appear totally un-professional to those who might be offended
by such material.
Use this FREE
tool to see if your website is
vulnerable to hotlink attacks.
To order your own hotlink and bandwidth protection ASAP, contact:
( usually under 24-hour delivery,
except on Sundays )
RJTaylor Enterprises
Phoenix, Arizona (623) 930-9949
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