How We Use Hotlink ALARM

Hotlink Alarm II is software to detect unauthorized hotlinking and the theft inherent in that illegal activity.

Hotlink Alarm II already has detected and reported many thousands of unauthorized hotlinks.

Hotlinking is widespread. Some hotlinking is authorized or condoned. Some is theft.

A Hotlink Alarm Alpha Testing Story

When the hotlink alarm software was alpha tested at willmaster.com, it quickly sent dozens of emails telling me about unauthorized hotlinking.

Well, I had forgotten that our affiliates were linking to certain images. So I quickly authorized the entire directory where affiliate images reside.

That incident prompted the addition of a method to optionally reduce hotlink emails to one per incidence per day.

A Hotlinked ZIP File Story

When a web page on an unauthorized domain hotlinks to a ZIP file on the willmaster.com server, Hotlink Alarm II delivers a substitute.

The ZIP file substitute we use contains an otherwise blank PDF document saying, "The file which had been linked to may only be acquired at https://www.willmaster.com/"

See for yourself. Put this link in a temporary web page on your domain.

<a href="//www.willmaster.com/anything.zip">
click
</a>

When the web page with the hotlink is on your domain, load the web page into your browser and click on the link. You'll get the substitute ZIP file.

(The hotlink alarm is triggered immediately when a link from an unauthorized domain is detected. It does not check to see whether or not the file is actually on the server.)

A Hotlinked JavaScript Story

Some people copy the source code from our pages, modify it to fit their site, and use it as their own.

We don't mind. Much. But when they fail to remove code that loads JavaScript from our server, that's a bit over the top.

On some of our pages, we use JavaScript to count page loads and record clicks. That particular JavaScript on other people's web pages affects our statistics.

At one point, a certain web site left our statistics JavaScript in the source code of several pages with "more information" forms. I used one of their forms to politely request they remove the JavaScript.

Nothing was done about it.

To put a stop to the pollution of our statistics database, I told Hotlink Alarm II to detect hotlinked .js files and substitute those hotlinks with an alternative.

The alternative displays, in large letters on a yellow background and with a link to the Hotlink Alarm II sales page:

Please do not hotlink to willmaster.com JavaScript files. (detected by Hotlink Alarm II)

Hotlink Alarm II still occasionally sends me an email about a hotlinked .js file. Generally, by the time I get to the offending web page, the hotlink is gone.

Google Cache

Google does cache web pages. You can choose to authorize google.com or give it file substitutes like any other unauthorized domain. Your choice.

We put Google cache on our authorized list.

Google Images at images.google.com can also be authorized, if desired. Consider that images hotlinked from another server and displayed at Google Images (or any other domain) can be copied and used without ever visiting the site the image is from.

Hotlinking Prevention

Unfortunately, hotlinking can not be prevented. People can code their web pages as they please.

However, when a hotlink is detected, software can deliver substitutes instead of the files being hotlinked to. The software can also notify the owner of the site being hotlinked to.

Hotlink Alarm II has been revamped for ease of use. It is available exclusively for WebSite's Secret members.