Link Anonymizer
 

Link Anonymizer v1.02a & 1.03, 1.04, 1.05.3 & 1.10

Author: MarcoH64

vBulletin Version: 3.5.1

Warning: Version 1.02 might create double anonym links if you edit a post multiple times. Version 1.03 has been reported not to be working for some people. Please read posts in this thread if you plan on using this hack, until i had time to look into this.
v1.05 and higher should be the best versions
1.10 Is an updated version of 1.05.3 and is considered a stable release. Only version 1.10 will be supported now.

Description:
This Product will add a self configurable anonymising link to all external urls in posts.

Installation:
Install the XML-file as Product.

Configuration:
vBulletin Options->Link Anonymizer :

• Local Addresses

Local addresses are not anonymized. If you leave this option blank, the value for vBulletin Options Cookie Domain will be used. Do not use a http:// prefix.

If you start the name with a dot (.mydomain.com) all server addresses ending with this will be considered local. If you want to add mulitple domain/servernames, seperate them by a single space.

• Anonymizer (default: http://anonym.to/?)

Link to a anonymizer function. Use preceding / if needed. Other Usable Anonymizers:

Code:

---

http://anon.free.anonymizer.com/
 
http://anonym.webgurus.de (Thanks Wachtmeister)

---

• Allways anonymize Unparseble URLs (* New in version 1.10)

Please click install if you are using this hack.

Donations are always welcomed at Paypal: marcoh64 AT gmail.com

Change log:
6-9-2005 v1.01
- 1 setting was missing from product file due to wrong Product. Fixed
7-9-2005 v1.02
- Under some conditions a newly posted post with only a link would not get anonymized. Fixed.
7-9-2005 v1.02a
- Fixed bug when handling generic local domain (starting with a dot '.'') Sorry for the many updates.
8-10-2005 v1.03
- Totally new way of doing this, on view instead of on write.
- Solved doubling the anonym link on edit
10-10-2005 v1.04
- Link not didn't get anonym prefix if URL= didn't contain http://. Solved.
- Added truncate table post_parsed to install routine.
1-11-2005 v1.05
- Standard Editor fixed
- Simple URL's in standard editor fixed.
- Default anonymizer changed
2-11-2005 v1.05.1
- Fixed bug where only the last url to the same domain in a single post was anonymised.
9-11-2005 v1.05.2
- Added option to ignore certain protocols in the vBulletin Options (ie. ignore https, ftp, ....).
- Attempt to fix reported bug where an inline fragment (#fragment) would also be anonymized.
10.11.2005 v1.05.3
- Another attempt to ignore fragments
25.11.2005 v1.10
- Fixed a bug where some urls could lead to a parse error. Example of an url leading to this error:
- Added new parameter to vB Options: Always anonimyze unparseble URLs
- This is considered a very stable release. No bug reports pending
- All previous versions are from now on unsupported

Upgrades:
If you are running an older version and want to upgrade, simply do an overwrite install.

It is possible that there are still double links in the database from old versions. If you wish to remove these, run the following queries (make backup first!!):

SQL Query: (how to run queries)
update post set pagetext = replace(pagetext, "http://YOURANONIMIZERLINK/","");

I'm not exactly sure what this hack does. Is there anymore info?

If someone post an external link in a post, it will prefix the link with an anonymising url. Like this if someone click on the link, it can not be traced back to your site.

Ok, I see what it does, but why is this good? seo or something?

sorry dude doesn't work for me, using RC2, imported as product, edit settings, edited my local domain (.mysite.com) and made a test post with some http links in it...nope!

bbcode is on so is vb code, certainly looks like it's not working, i made a new thread and a reply still nothing, should expect some page (anonymizer) before we hit the target page? hmmm

-b6

^ yea I just tried and it doesn't work for me either. :(

There's actually no "http://anon.free.anonymizer.com/" anywhere in your plugin code?? so i wonder where i have to alter the "$anonymurl" is there an option i've missed someplace within my ACP?

-b6

Sorry, version 1.01 uploaded.

There was 1 setting (where you could set the anonymizing link) that had as Product vBulletin set, so it didn't end up in teh XML-file. Just do an overwrite install.

PS It is not needed that you fill in the local addresses, if nothing is set and nothing is set for the cookie address, the name of the server is used.

cheers dude!

=-b6

installed and it's either extreamly quick, or not working..are you supposed to see the anonymizing link/page before you enter the target link, it's seemingly flawless, just like clicking a normal link...cool!
(it's not working isn't it) :(

do i have to run some update counters for threads or sumink?
EDIT: tried that didn't work!

I'm sure i'll see the anon page first, but i can test my ref simply by typing (or clicking) www.tonee.com (which i did) and the site shows my referrer in the address bar...

anyways i cannot get it 2work...have i missed anything?

-b6

You should already see it when hovering over a link.

Please check the following:
- You did install version 1.01
- Is the product/plugin active?
- Please post a screenshot of the Options page for Link Anonymizer

And PM me a link to a thread with an external link on your forum please (if needed please a test login)

Nice. Only one question. I am going to be putting some ads on my site and obviously these only work when the click through is registered. This hack won't affect this? i.e. it will only anonymize urls in posts and not every url on the forum.

PM sent

-b6

I created a hack that does the same but doesn't use an outside source. Look at my sig for the link. "Active Link Security Hack"

It will only work on links in posts.

Can anybody else who installed version 1.01 confirm if it is working or not?

It works ok for me although very slow to load up page, but when it does load up the address still shows the anon.free.anonymizer.com within the url of the page, dunno why..:(

Thanks for the report.

Yes that is how this peticular anonymizer works. But it is only set as an example, you can change to any anonymizer you want. Others might also have better speed, i don't have much experience with the different anonymizer services.

Edit: Please click install ;)

So by selecting a different anonymiser would that then get rid of the link in the address bar, as I find this a bit annoying to have it there and makes it hard to copy/paste?

Try putting the following in your Anonymizer link:

I haven't got a clue then why it's not working on my board, all is active, i've tested over and over, i have WYSIWYG on, vb code on, etc

Updated with version 1.02, fixed problem of b6gm6n.

See change log in first post.

1.02 works fine for me, thanks alot!

7-9-2005 v1.02a
- Fixed bug when handling generic local domain (starting with a dot '.'') Sorry for the many updates.

sorted! cheers!

-b6

What is the purpose of making external links untraceable?

Well i don't know why people want to use it. ;)

(I guess they are hotlinking to other sites)

lol. i guess you could somewhat hide illegal activity doing this.

Illegal? - ok so you wanna provide some privacy for your members when another member posts an external link from your forum, we all leave 'electronic' footprints in the cyber sand...but some would rather cover thier tracks (for whatever reason).

if you mean the posting of links to sites containing fine foul and birds to the gentry (examples below) then yes... personal & private habbit/hobby is bird watching i can tell you! :)

www.hugebills.com
www.touchmylongwebbedfeet.com
www.fingerlickingchicken.com

etc etc ;)

-b6

I wasn't implying that everyone is trying to hide illegal activities. Just replying to Marco's statement regarding hotlinking (which is illegal).

I would call it unethical, but i doubt that it is illegal (might depend on your location).

Any chance you could update this for 3.5 Gold?

It works on gold.

Not for me, the anonymous part at the beginning of the link repeats itself 4 times.

Haven't tried on gold yet, but will try to have a look today.

This has the same WYSIWYG editor issue as Active Link Security hack does/did.

When editing a post using Enhanced Editor, after the first edit it adds the "http://anonym.to/?" again and again each time you edit the post. Edit the post 4 times and you get:

Thanks this will put me on the right track to duplicate the problem and solve it. Expect an update tomorrow.

Awsome, thanks MarcoH64.
It's just wierd, post...it works great. Edit once, still works great. Edit again, and dup URLs are prefixed again and again on each edit.

any chance of this being something that you can turn on and off for each forum?

I'm sure it could be added in future releases.