Suppose I have a long content. For example: Now hover you mouse over "illustrate", you will find a link. Will this be counted as backlink by google???... Above, the illustrate has an underline.. But in other website, can I have such thing... Like if I made the "text-decoration:none;"
If it is in another site and pointing to your site, then it is a backlink. It is even a better link when it is in a site with higher PR.
Will google not punish me for keeping the hidden links??? Basically its not hidden but its looks like there is no any link of mine, but there is.
Then the chance of getting punished is high. But why do you keep hidden links? No use of it, users can't find it, so no point keeping them...
I have given the example above..... In the above example, the "illustrate" is underlined, but in my case it isn't... Unless someone point the mouse on it, no one would know about it. Viewing the source code, we find the link.