Redirect all External Links anonymously - Locally Hosted (Updated)

[thetechgenius]

I have just created a custom URL Anonymizer for vBulletin (or any web site).


All files are hosted locally on your server, including the JS files. This is something like how anonym.to redirects their links. But these files are hosted on your server, so you can use HTTPS, or use it on any site you want. And its open-source, my very own code.


Anonymized Links will show like this: http://yoursite.com/redirect/?to=http://externalsite.com



Lets get started.

1) First, put this at the Bottom of your footer template:



<script src="js/anon.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

<script type="text/javascript"><!--
protected_links = "javascript://,yoursite.com";

auto_anonymize();
//--></script>



Change yoursite.com to your actual domain name. You can also add URL's that you don't want to be Anonymized. Separate the URL's with commas. Or you could remove all of the protected sites, and have ALL links use the Anonym Redirect System.

Note: Make sure you keep javascript:// in with the protected links, so the addon doesn't break any of your other javascript functions. I will find a way to include this in the actual JS file, so you dont need to keep it in with your protected links, but for now this is an easy fix. (I am really busy at the moment)



2) Download the zip file at the end of this post, and extract the contents on your PC.

3) Upload the contents of the "upload" folder, to your forum root.

Done!


Let me know what you think. You can also use this script on a different site, such as a custom short URL, and link your Anonymized URLS to the short URL. If you have any questions, please post here, PM, Or contact me on my site: https://thetechgenius.net.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Update 1.0.2

Fixed - HTTPS links was not being anonymized

Update 1.0.3
Changed - No need to edit files anymore. Add the javascript code and upload the files to your forum root. Instead of the files linking to your domain (yourdomain.com/redirect/index.php), they will link to the mod directory (redirect/index.php). SO there is no need for any file edits, besides adding the Javascript to your footer template.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Update v2.0


Ok guys/girls, I have finally re-coded the entire script. And its working really well.

However, I have made it into its very own standalone script that can work completely by itself.

But, you can use some javascript to link to your forum, and have all external links use the service, and have the ANON domain put in front of all external links.

I will be updating the main post with all the information needed. But for now, you can check it out on my Git Site.

Source/Release - https://code.thetechgenius.net/TheTechGenius/TTG-Anonymous-URL

Note: I have my own Git Site. My Git site is running on the GOGS Git Software script. Please know, the ZIP at the bottom is NOT the standalone or updated version. I am working on setting up the file structure so its easier to install for everyone.

[ozzy47]

What is the pro's and cons of using such a thing?

[thetechgenius]

What is the pro's and cons of using such a thing?


Webmasters can use this tool to prevent their site from appearing in the server logs of referred pages as referrer. The operators of the referred pages cannot see where their visitors come from any more.

DBSEO does this too, but if you use DBSEO to redirect external links, they wont be 100% anonymized, and you cannot select the domains you dont want to be anonymized.

Anonym.to offers this service for free, but they make you put code in your templates that link to offsite files, such as javascript files. And if you have your site running though SSL/HTTPS, that can be a problem. Users will then get Mixed Content warning when they visit your site, because the javascript files from anonym.to will be served via HTTP not HTTPS. And if Anonym.to goes down or is offline, then your external links will no longer work.

This Mini Mod stores all its files locally on your server to reduce loading times, bandwidth, and most of all it will never go offline, your links will work forever. Its your personal Anonym Link Service.

[gbicar]

doesn't work with https links but only with http....

[thetechgenius]

doesn't work with https links but only with http....

I just tested HTTPS links on my board, and your right. I have to go over the Javascript, and see where the problem is. Thank you for bring this to my attention.

[thetechgenius]

doesn't work with https links but only with http....


I found a solution.

Edit js/anon.js:


Find:



if(a_to_vi.match(a_to_vf[j]) || !a_to_vi || !a_to_vi.match("http://"))




Replace:



if(a_to_vi.match(a_to_vf[j]) || !a_to_vi || !a_to_vi.match("//"))




I updated the OP with this code edit. Thank you.

[gbicar]

now works fine, thanks a lot

[thetechgenius]

now works fine, thanks a lot

Your welcome. I'm glad its working good for you.

[minhmeo.info]

i follow step by step but not work for me
when click url, i wll be redirect to this page, but not redirected to destination url

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2014/10/19.png

P/S: i find out that only unregistered member will be redirected to right destination, admin/smod/mod/member only see page like image above.

[thetechgenius]

i follow step by step but not work for me
when click url, i wll be redirect to this page, but not redirected to destination url

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2014/10/19.png

P/S: i find out that only unregistered member will be redirected to right destination, admin/smod/mod/member only see page like image above.

I just updated the mod to 1.0.3. This version doesnt need any file edits. Just copy the contents of the upload folder to your forum root and overwrite. Make sure you also put the Javascript code at the bottom of your footer template.

And sorry about that. It should work for you now. However, this mod doesn't have any Usergroup Permissions, so I dont know why some usergroups can see it, and some cannot. If you still have an issue after updating, please let me know and I will try my best to help you. Try clearing your browser cache after you update the mod also, that could be the problem. Or it could be another Mod/Addon is conflicting with this one.

[minhmeo.info]

I just updated the mod to 1.0.3. This version doesnt need any file edits. Just copy the contents of the upload folder to your forum root and overwrite. Make sure you also put the Javascript code at the bottom of your footer template.

And sorry about that. It should work for you now. However, this mod doesn't have any Usergroup Permissions, so I dont know why some usergroups can see it, and some cannot. If you still have an issue after updating, please let me know and I will try my best to help you. Try clearing your browser cache after you update the mod also, that could be the problem. Or it could be another Mod/Addon is conflicting with this one.

Hi,
It works like charm now. Is there any way to change time wait before redirected?
Example i want member have to wait 3s before redirected.

BTW, great mod!

[minhmeo.info]

i've just found new issue, it seems conflict with DBTech Advance Thank/Like

When you click Thank/Like button, you will be redirected to this
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2014/10/18.png

[thetechgenius]

i've just found new issue, it seems conflict with DBTech Advance Thank/Like

When you click Thank/Like button, you will be redirected to this
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2014/10/18.png

Try putting your domain in with the protected links.

[minhmeo.info]

Try putting your domain in with the protected links.

Sure, i did it :D
Please try http://www.dragonbyte-tech.com/product/22-advanced-post-thanks-like/

[thetechgenius]

Sure, i did it :D
Please try http://www.dragonbyte-tech.com/product/22-advanced-post-thanks-like/

I sure will. But I can't test it until tomorrow some time, I am really busy (I am a full time father also). But as soon as I can test it out with Adv Post/Thanks/Like, I will PM you with what I find. And hopefully I will have a solution for you too.

Sorry for the problem.

[usefee]

Update 1.0.3 is so usefull
installed and very thanks!

[thetechgenius]

Sure, i did it :D
Please try http://www.dragonbyte-tech.com/product/22-advanced-post-thanks-like/

I think I found a solution. DBTech Post Thanks uses javascript for clicking Thanks/Like correct?

In your footer template, add this to your Protected Links:


javascript://




So the code will look something like this:


<script src="js/anon.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

<script type="text/javascript"><!--
protected_links = "yoursite.com,javascript://";

auto_anonymize();
//--></script>




I had a similar issue on my board, my Nav Bar drop down menus use javascript, so the
Javascript drop down menus would show like this:

https://thetechgenius.net/redirect/?to=javascript://

It didn't break the Drop Down, because its just a menu. But it could break other javascript functions, such as DBTech Thanks/Like Addon.

Let me know if it works for you.

[minhmeo.info]

Work like charm now! You rock!

[elfenny]

Great, I needed it. Works great thanks

[Dezarii]

Is it possible to anonymize links in one private subforum only? Or does it just work for the whole forum?

[elfenny]

There is a problem with the full script of linkbucks :(

[thetechgenius]

There is a problem with the full script of linkbucks :(

Is this mod conflicting with LinkBucks URL's?

If so, just add "www.linkbucks.com" to the Protected Links.

So your protected links will look something like this in your footer template:



<script src="js/anon.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

<script type="text/javascript"><!--
protected_links = "yoursite.com,javascript://,www.linkbucks.com";

auto_anonymize();
//--></script>

[elfenny]

Is this mod conflicting with LinkBucks URL's?

If so, just add "www.linkbucks.com" to the Protected Links.

So your protected links will look something like this in your footer template:



<script src="js/anon.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

<script type="text/javascript"><!--
protected_links = "yoursite.com,javascript://,www.linkbucks.com";

auto_anonymize();
//--></script>


do not want to protect linkbucks url, I want to continue running the full script of linkbucks.

Chain links so far ... Link in Forum > linkbucks > Download page

With the plugin is so ... Link in Forum > Anonymizer > Download page (linkbucks disappear)

What I want ... Link in Forum> Anonymizer > Linkbucks > Download page

[thetechgenius]

do not want to protect linkbucks url, I want to continue running the full script of linkbucks.

Chain links so far ... Link in Forum > linkbucks > Download page

With the plugin is so ... Link in Forum > Anonymizer > Download page (linkbucks disappear)

What I want ... Link in Forum> Anonymizer > Linkbucks > Download page

I'm not sure if thats possible. But I will look into it for you.

It may be possible to embed the linkbucks content on the Anonymizer redirect page. However, I'm not sure, I will have to look into it.

Now that I think about it though, I think the Anonymizer Javascript may be conflicting with your Linkbucks Javascript. Does your Linkbucks mod use javascript to put a linkbucks url in front of URLs? Or do you do it manually?

Sorry, I am half asleep, so its a bit hard to concentrate at the moment. lol

[elfenny]

I'm not sure if thats possible. But I will look into it for you.

It may be possible to embed the linkbucks content on the Anonymizer redirect page. However, I'm not sure, I will have to look into it.

Now that I think about it though, I think the Anonymizer Javascript may be conflicting with your Linkbucks Javascript. Does your Linkbucks mod use javascript to put a linkbucks url in front of URLs? Or do you do it manually?

Sorry, I am half asleep, so its a bit hard to concentrate at the moment. lol

I also believe that there is a conflict between Anonymizer and linkbucks script. causes it to fail linksbuck

The script automatically sends linkbucks advertising links but I can protect (like Anonymizer) to no effect. Example: Mysite.com, Facebook.com, youtube.com, etc.

[elfenny]

no answer? :(

[ozzy47]

Patience, remember this mod is distributed freely, people have lives other than here. :)

[mitch84]

thank you, work fine on vb4.2.0 Patch Level 4

[angeljs]

I can't get this to work at all, I'm afraid. I keep getting the same problem as in this post:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=2517717&postcount=10

[thetechgenius]

Sorry for the wait everyone. I have just been really busy. But in my free time I have been working on this Mod/Addon, and I have fixed a lot of of the code, and some parts are completely rewritten. I still have to test it out on my live board for a few days, maybe a week or two just to be on the safe side.

The next update will also include a way to set it up on another domain or subdomain. This is how I have it setup on my site right now:

https://thetechgenius.net - My Site where vBulletin is installed

https://link.thetechgenius.net - This is the domain that the External Links get linked to via the Addon.

So all external links that are not on the white list, will show like this: https://link.thetechgenius.net/?http://vbulletin.org

You can actually click that link to see how it loads, and to test it out. You can also try it with your own link. Just put your link after the "?" (question mark).

Example: https://link.thetechgenius.net/?http://yourlink.com


Please let me know what you think.

[shneler2010]

Is there any way to change time wait before redirected?
Example i want member have to wait 3s before redirected.

[thetechgenius]

Is there any way to change time wait before redirected?
Example i want member have to wait 3s before redirected.

Not in this version, sorry. Not without changing a lot of the PHP Code.

I will be updating this addon soon, it will allow you do to much more, including change the Time Before Redirect.

I have the updated version working well on my site, but it still has a few bugs/glitches. So when I have it running at 100%, I will update this addon on vb.org.

You can see the updated version running on my site if you like:

https://link.thetechgenius.net/?http://vbulletin.org

You can also use any URL you like, just to test it out.

Example:

https://link.thetechgenius.net/?http://example.com



All you have to do is put your URL after the "?" (question mark):

https://link.thetechgenius.net/?


Note: Them links also work without the HTTPS/SSL.


The updated version will work on any Domain or Subdomain you want to use. And it will still anonymize all the external links on your forum, except the Protected URL's that you set in the Javascript. The custom javascript file will link all external links to the Anonymizer Domain or Subdomain that you choose.

I am just trying to figure out an easier way for people to install the updated addon, without actually editing the javascript file and adding the anonymizer domain or subdomain. It will work as it is right now, but if you will be using a different domain or subdomain for the Anonymizer addon other then your main domain, you will need to edit the javascript file and change the URL of the anonymizer.

Don't worry, I will have it up and running very soon. Sorry for the long wait. I really don't have much time on my hands, with the holidays and all.

[shneler2010]

<font color="Red">Dear Mr.
thetechgenius
Please kindly provide me with that code that you use I think it is looking good
if possible to adjust the code to be compatible withe Vbulletin 4.2.2
Best regards </font>

[richTV]

i just had to remove a different one. The anonym.to one as google has been reporting it as malware over the past few days. http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=http://anonym.to/&hl=en ; http://www.google.com/interstitial?url=http://anonym.to/ ; http://anonym.to/en.html

I would like to try this one instead and was wondering if this one is compatible with vB 3.8.7

thanks.

[SGoogle]

I have use nginx run vbulletin, but it show error 403 Forbidden...

Please Help me. Thanks

[Keythacker]

Cant wait till this is done looks good but does not work on m site the links in the posts people make don not get redirected. Looking forward to this.

[majjed2008]

thank you very much i use it in my site and it is working very good , i just want to ask you if you can to add some important future to add adversting space in the redicate .

thank you

[Wolver2]

Just wondering if it will completely hide where I clicked from?

If I click on mydomain.com on Link A and I land on Link B .

Will link B see any data or any footprints that I came from Link A?

[thetechgenius]

Just a little update on this addon...

Its just about finished, it still has a few minor bugs in it though. And when its finished, I will put it on Github so anyone could contribute to the development and make it better.


thank you very much i use it in my site and it is working very good , i just want to ask you if you can to add some important future to add adversting space in the redicate .

thank you

I will be adding Advertisement spaces to the redirect page. However, if you know a bit of HTML/CSS, you could easily add Advertisements to the page.

[Keythacker]

awesome cant wait will def contribute to helping with this.

[richTV]

Hi Tech, will this work for vB3.8.7 ? :)

I recently added back the anonym.to as google now deems it safe from malware. [refer to my ealier post above]

I am however interested in your addon instead.

thanks.

[thetechgenius]

Hi Tech, will this work for vB3.8.7 ? :)

I recently added back the anonym.to as google now deems it safe from malware. [refer to my ealier post above]

I am however interested in your addon instead.

thanks.

It should work for any vB version, its only a bit of javascript.

[richTV]

ok, thanks for your reply Tech. :)

would you advise waiting for your updates before i try this one?

[qubed]

Hi,

I just wanted to commend you on creating this. I have been looking for something like this for a long, long, long time that didn't rely on anonym.to and this looks really great.

With that said, I am running into the refer mask issue others have mentioned. I do currently have my forum located in a subfolder (ex: example.com/abc), would this be causing the problem? Currently I have example.com protected as well as example.com/abc, is there anything else I need to do / change?

I'd love to get this working and any advice is appreciated.

Thanks again!

qubed

[thetechgenius]

Hi,

I just wanted to commend you on creating this. I have been looking for something like this for a long, long, long time that didn't rely on anonym.to and this looks really great.

With that said, I am running into the refer mask issue others have mentioned. I do currently have my forum located in a subfolder (ex: example.com/abc), would this be causing the problem? Currently I have example.com protected as well as example.com/abc, is there anything else I need to do / change?

I'd love to get this working and any advice is appreciated.

Thanks again!

qubed

Yes, your forum in a sub directory could be the problem. You will have to edit the file paths. I will post the solution for you later, I would post it now, but I am not home right now so I don't have the files or code in front of me.

Sorry about that.



And for everyone that is waiting on the new updated version, there has been a lot of very serious family and personal issues going on in my life. My 6 year old son has been sick, and I have been taking care of him. As you all know already, your child comes first before anything. But I will have the updated version uploaded by the end of next week, hopefully if everything goes well.

I am so sorry for the long wait.

[khalled]

Yes, your forum in a sub directory could be the problem. You will have to edit the file paths. I will post the solution for you later, I would post it now, but I am not home right now so I don't have the files or code in front of me.

Sorry about that.



And for everyone that is waiting on the new updated version, there has been a lot of very serious family and personal issues going on in my life. My 6 year old son has been sick, and I have been taking care of him. As you all know already, your child comes first before anything. But I will have the updated version uploaded by the end of next week, hopefully if everything goes well.

I am so sorry for the long wait.

i hope every thing go well with you and your family

[qubed]

Any update on the possibility of getting this to work in a subfolder (ex. example.com/vbulletin)?

Many thanks!

[thetechgenius]

Ok guys/girls, I have finally re-coded the entire script. And its working really well.

However, I have made it into its very own standalone script that can work completely by itself.

But, you can use some javascript to link to your forum, and have all external links use the service, and have the ANON domain put in front of all external links.

I will be updating the main post with all the information needed. But for now, you can check it out on my Git Site.

Source/Release - https://code.thetechgenius.net/TheTechGenius/TTG-Anonymous-URL

Note: I have my own Git Site. My Git site is running on the GOGS Git Software script.

[ArcadeSyndicate]

[QUOTE=thetechgenius;2589914]
Source/Release - https://code.thetechgenius.net/TheTechGenius/TTG-Anonymous-URL/QUOTE]

Error 523 Ray ID: 42045b0bc8f86487 ? 2018-05-25 01:51:16 UTC
Origin is unreachable

[NeoDio]

Would this mod be suitable for fixing Mixed Content Errors for SSL?