How to make email tags (mailto:) non-crawlable?

Discussion in 'HTML & Website Design' started by solid7, Oct 5, 2006.

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  1. #1
    I have a website that uses a form mailer. While this is the ultimate solution to reducing spam, it's not exactly perfect. It seems that this script has been preventing me from receiving most of my emails for over a year and a half. (something about a conflict between the script and the server spam filter)

    Anyway, I want to put a direct link on my webpage, but not have it crawled by the spambots. I have seen this done before, with javascript, I believe.

    Can someone help me with this?
     
    solid7, Oct 5, 2006 IP
  2. mad4

    mad4 Peon

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    #2 
    <script language=javascript> 

<!-- 
var username = "enquiries"; 
var hostname = "yoursite.co.uk";
var linktext = username + "@" + hostname; 
document.write("<a href=" + "mail" + "to:" + username + 
"@" + hostname + ">" + linktext + "</a>") 
//--> 
</script>
    Code (markup):
     
    mad4, Oct 5, 2006 IP
  3. solid7

    solid7 Well-Known Member

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    #3
    Thank you for the fast reply.

    Any issues with it that would make your recommend against using it?

    Thanks again...
     
    solid7, Oct 5, 2006 IP
  4. T0PS3O

    T0PS3O Feel Good PLC

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    #4
    T0PS3O, Oct 5, 2006 IP
  5. mad4

    mad4 Peon

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    #5
    I use it myself and it works fine.
     
    mad4, Oct 5, 2006 IP
  6. solid7

    solid7 Well-Known Member

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    #6
    Sorry to be a stupid - but I have the script code - how do I call it?

    Not a real webmaster! :D :D :D :D
     
    solid7, Oct 5, 2006 IP
  7. T0PS3O

    T0PS3O Feel Good PLC

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    #7
    You just paste that in your HTML.
     
    T0PS3O, Oct 5, 2006 IP
  8. solid7

    solid7 Well-Known Member

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    #8
    I did that... but it's not showing up. (and I'm actually speaking of the code posted by mad4, although I'm trying yours, as well)

    EDIT: nevermind - the problem is how I have my page coded. I cannot execute a script the way that I am using it. (long story - PHP skins and templates, blah, blah, blah)

    I'll make the workaround. Thanks to all.
     
    solid7, Oct 5, 2006 IP
  9. YIAM

    YIAM Notable Member

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    #9
    copy & paste between <body> tags. :D
     
    YIAM, Oct 5, 2006 IP
  10. solid7

    solid7 Well-Known Member

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    #10
    A) you missed my last post and/or the point
    B) if only it were that simple

    Thanks anyway.
     
    solid7, Oct 5, 2006 IP
  11. JosephtheGreat

    JosephtheGreat Peon

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    #11
    That's a neat bit of code, mad4. I don't think you'd mind if I used it? :) I've seen some people use something like this email(at)host.com, or put the ascii code for the @ symbol. Any idea whether that does any good or not?
     
    JosephtheGreat, Oct 5, 2006 IP
  12. fireshark

    fireshark Peon

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    #12
    yeah but then you cant click it.
     
    fireshark, Oct 7, 2006 IP
  13. JosephtheGreat

    JosephtheGreat Peon

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    #13
    It seems to work for me. I just put 
    mailto:shadoway(at)dawninghybridz.com.
    Code (markup):
    I'm just not sure whether it does a lot though....
     
    JosephtheGreat, Oct 8, 2006 IP
  14. mad4

    mad4 Peon

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    #14
    What happens if you click on it? :confused:
     
    mad4, Oct 9, 2006 IP
  15. 3l3ctr1c

    3l3ctr1c Peon

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    #15
    Opens your default mail client with the mail to adress as soso(at)soso.com, whcih the user needs to change (at) as @.
     
    3l3ctr1c, Oct 9, 2006 IP
  16. mad4

    mad4 Peon

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    #16
    I expect most users won't realise what they need to change and will end up frustrated when the email won't send.
     
    mad4, Oct 9, 2006 IP
  17. T0PS3O

    T0PS3O Feel Good PLC

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    #17
    Just remember that spammers don't stand still either. Processing javascript isn't particularly rocket science.
     
    T0PS3O, Oct 9, 2006 IP
  18. Barti1987

    Barti1987 Well-Known Member

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    #18
    You can never hide your email when posting it, unless you use some kind of complicated captcha design.

    Spammers could be programmers too.

    Peace,
     
    Barti1987, Oct 9, 2006 IP
  19. JosephtheGreat

    JosephtheGreat Peon

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    #19
    Funny. For me, it changed automatically! :eek:
     
    JosephtheGreat, Oct 9, 2006 IP
  20. solid7

    solid7 Well-Known Member

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    #20
    This may be true - but at this point in the evolution of spam combat, the encoded link tricks listed early in the thread are MORE than adequate to eliminate all but the very most sophisticated spammers - probably 99.5% or better. For the few that are left, they must have a damn good product, and I'd probably like to hear about it, for the extra effort that goes into deciphering those coded tags :D

    In my opinion, reducing spam to zero (without filtering wanted emails, too) is fatally optimistic. I'm happy if it reduces to a mere trickle. So far, I'm quite happy. The only reason that I wanted to post an encoded direct link, is because I'm suspicious of my mail form... (and how it affects/responds to certain spam filters at the ISP level)
     
    solid7, Oct 9, 2006 IP
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