[bcab] Re: Hiding an email address on a web site

The first thing that spam bots appear to look for is a "mailto" link - this
is a link that starts the mail client of the user when clicked on. It is
very convenent for the user but you will get spam. Check that you can put a
decent spam-filter on the site (best) or on your own mail (i have had to go
this route. I find ESET very good).

PHP forms have a problem in that they need careful coding to avoid spam
relaying. A typical trick is to use the form to send the return toyou, but
also include another message which is broadcast to multiple recipients so
that it looks as though it originates from you. The way to get round this is
to test every single character of the form and disallow anything not
permitted. Or put in a VI friendly CAPTCHA. See if you can lock your SMTP
server to only send mail to trusted addresses if your site only receives
e-mail from users (but no good if you send automated confirmations, for
example).

Security is a hassle but make it difficult for spammers and they will go
away and find easier targets.

HTH
Tony

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Griffith" <d.griffith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 12:48 PM
Subject: [bcab] Re: Hiding an email address on a web site


> Perhaps the easiest way to handle this is to use a relatively disposable
web
> mail account.  I do not know how much traffic you are expecting but I
simply
> created a new free Yahoo email account to display on my web site. You
might
> have to be imaginative but I found for example that low_vision_survival
> @yahoo.com was an available address for me.
>
> Actually I have had this for several months and I have not received a
single
> spam mail  but I guess this might change quickly. If spam became
intolerable
> I would simply "dispose" of the account and set up a new one.
>
>
> Regards
>
> David Griffith
> Read my User Review of the EyePal Scanner
> http://www.nonags.org/members/dajgriff/Review_EyePal.htm
>
> My Low Vision Resources Web Site  is
> http://www.nonags.org/members/dajgriff/
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf
> Of Barry Hill
> Sent: Thursday, 28 May 2009 08:36
> To: bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [bcab] Re: Hiding an email address on a web site
>
> Hi Steve
>
> Ah, I see.  I presume, then, that the steve at comproom dot co dot uk is
not
> actually a link.  That does make it somewhat awkward for a person using a
> screen reader to figure out.
>
> Perhaps the only solution is a good spam filter?
>
> Cheers
>
> Barry
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf
> Of Steve Nutt
> Sent: 28 May 2009 8:30 AM
> To: bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [bcab] Re: Hiding an email address on a web site
>
> Hi Barry,
>
> No, if you do it as a link, it is easily searchable within the HTML code,
> and therefore, not hidden.
>
> All the best
>
> Steve
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf
> Of Barry Hill
> Sent: Thursday 28 May 2009 06:17
> To: bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [bcab] Re: Hiding an email address on a web site
>
> Hi Steve
>
> If I can write it out as you suggest, then it seems likely that I could
also
> write something like:
>
> You can email Steve by clicking here
>
> The whole sentence being an email link.  If this is the case, then I think
I
> am sorted.
>
> Many thanks.
>
> Barry
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf
> Of Steve Nutt
> Sent: 27 May 2009 5:07 PM
> To: bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [bcab] Re: Hiding an email address on a web site
>
> Hi Barry,
>
> A good way to do this would be something like steve at comproom dot co dot
> uk. The idea is that you change all the symbols for actual words.
>
> All the best
>
> Steve
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf
> Of Barry Hill
> Sent: Wednesday 27 May 2009 16:26
> To: bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [bcab] Hiding an email address on a web site
>
> Hi all
>
> I'm making a web site, with a lot of help, and would like to avoid bots
> getting the email address off the sites contacts page.  Is there a way of
> hiding the actual address under innocuous text?  For instance, can I just
> have *Email the editor* As a hyperlink email address without the
> *@tiscali.co.uk*?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Barry
>
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> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus
signature database 3946 (20090318) __________
>
> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
>
> http://www.eset.com
>
>
>


__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature 
database 3946 (20090318) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com



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