Spam links on Blog Readability Test widget
by AJ on January 17, 2008
While checking out the search keyword “level of education required to understand your blog”, I found this widget which has a spam link on its code. The supposedly helpful tool “Blog Readability Test” inserts the below link in the html code:
<p><small>Fast <a href=”http://www.cashadvance1500.com”>Payday Loans</a></small></p>
So, if you have placed this code (widget) in your blog. You might as well remove it as it gives a backlink and additional PR for this very intrusive widget.
Always be careful before you place anything on your blog.
–aj
Popularity: 1%
13 comments
arent you just sick of people trying to spam shit and trying to gain money online through stupid scams…. we are…
good catch and a+ for information your readers.
by hellyeahdude.com on January 21, 2008 at 10:23 AM. #
well.. its about giving the credits.. these guys are most likely the sponsor of the widget.. :).. feel free to use it but be ethical in using it.. for me .. i don’t give a damn if gagamit ako ng widget or theme with this stuffs on board.. as long as my blog is hackfree… “walay problem” :)..
let’ the developer of this widget earn naman…. grabe naman kau hihih..
by rodel on January 20, 2008 at 7:11 PM. #
@cyberpunk, yes you can remove that part. my take however is why and what for if you know that they are doing that for links. that alone questions the credibility of the readability result.
don’t you think? :)
by aj on January 18, 2008 at 10:26 PM. #
Aba! Thanks for pointing this out. I don’t use this widget but I see it on a lot of blogs.
Btw, can’t users just delete that spammy part and keep the widget?
by cyberpunk on January 18, 2008 at 10:15 PM. #
thank you for posting this info.
by khulhaphu on January 18, 2008 at 6:34 PM. #
[...] Spam links on Blog Readability Test widget | ajb{log}: learn something new each day [...]
by PinoyBlurker » Blog Archive » links for 2008-01-18 on January 18, 2008 at 9:28 AM. #
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by links for 2008-01-18 « PinoyBlurker @ PinoyBlogoSphere.com on January 18, 2008 at 9:18 AM. #
the very first time i put that on my blog i noticed it too and removed it right away. i know how all these codes work, and was totally astounded to have seen that.
by Zang on January 18, 2008 at 5:52 AM. #
Great find AJ! Thanks for warning us about this malicious widgets. :)
by Jaypee on January 17, 2008 at 5:42 PM. #
@nina, yes that is really a bad way. sayang ganda pa naman ng widget.
@rodel, im a newbie too with regards to blogging. but the thing is i check widgets’ code first before using them. :)
also, some wordpress themes have spammy links too and are very difficult to spot. so, just be on the lookout for this.
by aj on January 17, 2008 at 5:37 PM. #
i think this is not new… in fact some themes has this one too..it has been an accepted initiative by most providers but I don’t know with most users. most of them sponsor themes that is why we’ve seen a lot of free themes right now. and for widgets… this is strategy in the making.. :)
but ur tip really help.. in this way we can raise vigilance for newbies(including me) to be very careful in using widgets..
ur thoughts..
by rodel on January 17, 2008 at 5:22 PM. #
Ay bad yan ah. The only reason I didn’t put that widget in my blog was because the result I got was.. let’s just say it’s not flattering lol.
Good on you for spotting that! Thanks for telling us about it… I have a couple of friends who posted the result in their blogs.
by nina on January 17, 2008 at 5:21 PM. #