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Kanaginternet hide their spammy links in the same way as Artio by obfuscating the code with base64 encoding. As noted in one of the earlier posts in the file sef_class.php there is a line that starts :-

        eval(base64_decode('JHNlZkRpckFkbWluID0gJEdMT

When you decode this it evaluates as:-

$sefDirAdmin = $GLOBALS['mosConfig_absolute_path'] . '/administrator/components/com_sef/';
// load checksums
        $license = trim(@file_get_contents($sefDirAdmin . 'signature.b64'));
$checksum = trim(@file_get_contents($sefDirAdmin . 'checksum.md5'));
$checkstr = '';
global $sefCheckA;
$sefCheckA[3] = $sefCheckA[2] = $sefCheckA[1] = $sefCheckA[0] = '';
        $sefCheckA = explode('-', $license);
foreach ($sefCheckA as $id => $checkpart) {
$sefCheckA[$id] = base64_decode($checkpart);
$checkstr .= $sefCheckA[$id];
}        $this->enabled &= ($checksum == $checksum);
// autumn adjustment
if ($this->enabled) {

if (!is_null($txt)) {
$txt1 = 'JoomSEF SEO by Kanga Internet (http://www.kangainternet.com) - Web Design, Web Development, SEO, Online Marketing, Search Engine Optimisation';
$txt2 = '
Web Designers';

}
}
// autumn adjustment end
function xmlParsing ($path, $base, $index, $option)
{
global $_VERSION, $sefCheckA;
if (($path == $base) || ($path == ($base . $index)) || (@$option == 'com_frontpage')) {
// frontpage code
                $_VERSION->URL .= '
Web Design | Web Developers | SEO | Online Marketing | Web Designers Melbourne';
$_VERSION->COPYRIGHT .= $sefCheckA[1];
} else {
// other page code
                $_VERSION->URL .= '
Web Design | Web Developers | SEO | Online Marketing | Web Designers Melbourne';
$_VERSION->COPYRIGHT .= $sefCheckA[3];
}
}
function includeSef ($once = false)
{
global $mosConfig_absolute_path, $sefCheckA;
static $first = true;
if ($once && ! $first)
return;
$txt = file_get_contents($mosConfig_absolute_path . '/components/com_sef/sef_ext.php');
if (substr($txt, 0, 5) != '$txt = base64_encode($txt);
$txt = $sefCheckA[4] . $txt;
$detxt = base64_decode($txt);
$detxt = substr($detxt, 2, - 2);
eval($detxt);
} else {
if ($once) {
include_once ($mosConfig_absolute_path . '/components/com_sef/sef_ext.php');
} else {
include ($mosConfig_absolute_path . '/components/com_sef/sef_ext.php');
}
}
$first = false;
}

Just to quote myself again because I see some people are still confused about how to remove the spam links.  The ONLY thing you need to do is comment out the ONE line above from the standard version downloaded from Artio.  That's it. You don't need to download a patched version. 

Yes, it's really that simple. 

It's that simple if all you want to do is remove the spam links on the home page. Removing that line does not remove the random adverts & other crap in the meta tags of every page on your site.

An interesting topic.  I have been asked to comment on this topic.

Okay, lets clear a few things up.

Firstly, Kanga Internet is a business.  Much like any other business we need to justify why we spend money and how we allocate resources to projects.  By allocating a resource to continuing to patch the JoomSEF component there was need to see some results from it.  Unfortunately, as is the case with the Joomla community, everyone wants something for free.  So far the Joomla community has not been very giving in terms of helping us or supporting us with even so much as one link, so, clearly politely asking for links was not working.

What we decided to do was this ..

Kanga would still provide a completely SPAM FREE and link free version of JoomSEF but it would not be the latest and greatest release, it would be the prior sub version release.  When the next sub version is released then so will the next fully link free version of JoomSEF, but the link-free version will lag behind the latest releases.

We decided that there was still need to patch the latest release but it would come with links - these links help us justify the time and effort we spend on our resources.

So if you want a link free version then download an older sub-version release.  Alternatively there are other options SH404SEF or openSEF.  The former being the better of the two, but IMHO still not as good as JoomSEF.

I still use a hacked version of 1.5.0 .. so, I don't see why people are whinging .. the older releases work fine!!!!! ..

You put your crappy links in "spam free" version of Artio and you didn't clearly say so. You admitted that only after you morons have been exposed here.

What you did sucks big time!!!

well that's a pretty intelligent reply .. gonna get you a long way in life!

if you read the site then it clearly says what the go is .. and out of courtesy i decided to also post on this forum.

what we did makes commercial business sense, while still providing the joomla community a link free version of joomsef.

If you think you can come up with a better business model on how you would run it then i am taking submissions ..

would it be better to patch the component and charge half of what Artio do?

Your site doesn't make this clear at all. It lists various versions e.g.

JoomSEF 1.5.1 - Patched
Joomsef 2.0.0 - Patched Version - NO ADVERTS
Joomsef 2.2.0 - Patched Version - NO Adverts & NO Meta Generator Tag
JoomSEF 2.2.5 - Patched Version

Nowhere does it say in which version you have replaced Artio's spam crap with your own. When you download the original version from Artio's site they at least state "The latest free version of JoomSEF may contain links to ARTIO webpages or some of the JoomSEF development sponsors." You give no such warning & I am sure have mislead users who have downloaded previous versions from your site with spam links & metatags removed & assume that any version from your site described as 'Patched' would be the same. This is deceitful & deplorable behaviour & I agree wholeheartedly with the previous poster that "What you did sucks big time!!!"

I agree, luckily i've had the patience to read thru the forum before jumping to your 'spam free patched' vertion of Artio JoomSEF. I'd better pay them for the fine work they did than installing your 'spam replacer' version 

So basically what we have is a company who releases a component to the community which includes paid links, allowing them to release the component for free.

Then we have another company who takes the free component and replaces the ads with their own and releases that for free - admittedly, this company should perhaps have made it far clearer that they had replaced the ads with their own.

Perhaps a solution would be for people to take the time to understand the component, see how it works, base64 decode the encoded stuff in sef.class.php and remove the ads themselves?

Here is a plain-text fix that removes all advertisements.

This should work for versions 2.2.3 - 2.2.6. I've tested this on my local host, and this appears to work.

This is explicitly allowed in the ARTIO JoomSEF Documentation for 2.2.6: "Similarily to Joomla! software, these [advertisements] may be removed if you wish to do so."

So, should you still pay ARTIO if you use their component commercially? YES!

Should ARTIO (or others) sneak advertisements in their free version, and make them unnecessarily difficult to remove? NO!

Obfuscated code and weaselly marketing tactics are against the spirit of Open Source.

-Ken

Are you try this tips?
administrator/components/com_sef and you can see signature zip file, rename it

sorry remove this post please

hmmmm - was my agreeing with 90% of the posts on this subject reason enough to remove my last reply - well if you can't beat them, join them!

1. Locate the file called "signature.b64" - administrator/components/com_sef
2. Using note pad or similar open that file and copy the Base64 string
3. Go to http://makcoder.sourceforge.net/demo/base64.php, enter the code click on decode and have a look at the very simple HTML structure.
4. copy the HTML you've just decoded and replace the links and text with you own
5. copy that html
6. go back to http://makcoder.sourceforge.net/demo/base64.php
7. Paste the html into the box and click encode.
8. Take the Base64 string you just created and replace the one in the signature.b64 file
9. Save it upload and hey presto you've got you own links in the Meta Tags

This is a lesson in how the community will work to together to counter any insidious and deceitful attempts to highjack the sites we manage – if you want to make money from the community do so, but be upfront about it. I’ve paid for a number of components and for work by various community developers – I now have two that are on my list of don’t use!

Hello all, I update today to 2.2.7 version and the goo boys of Artio change once more time the code and now, the line 385 at sef.class.php seems a bit like:



And as you can see, the base64 file no more exist in version 2.2.7, but in the line 393 we can read

$detxt = base64_decode($txt);

So, how could we disable the "SEO by Artio" link at footer?

You can check an spanish website that shows an alternative way to disable this link from version 2.2.3

http://www.syntaxerror.es/2007/12/17/ar ... sion-free/

In anyone have a solution, I'll be very happy to read a way to solve this trouble.

Many thanks!

Salutio

~ Io ~

It' seems to me that Artio are now doing the decent things by making a spam free version avaiable for just 24 Euro's. You probably won't want to hear this but but it's a great component and worth the price.

Hi

well, one can discuss whether or not such a spammy link should/can/has to be there or not.

As far as I'm concerned, I got quite surprised that it appears on the webpage.
Anyhow, here is what I did in 2.2.7 (stumbled upon it when I squeezed my eyes while scrolling through the code... ):
In administrator/components/com_sef/sef.class.php, I commented out line 522 as follows:


and added one as follows, so the variable is initialized (at least)...


I'm sorry guys at Artio. You already have been more sophisticated then in this version...
So why bother in the first place and putting spammy links?!
After all, it's opensource. Isn't it?!

Happy 'puting

D.

Many thanks Dakshinamurti, I'm very surprised about the simplicity of the way of hiding the URL in this variable.

Many thanks again.

anyone figure out how to remove this in 2.3.0?

Man what a disapointment - I just hit the upgrade button and now I have this stupid link at the bottom of my 10,000 + pages - looks idiotic.

So am I really a HOSTAGE of Artio now?

BS!!!! - is this opensource or what?

oh im pissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I need to take deep breaths and count to 10

To: Joomla Admins
re: Artio

do you support this tactic taken by the developers of artio?

you must since I see thier product is readily available via your download section...

( i hit update from my opensource (joomla) project's admin - which just cost me 38 US$)


I guess Ill pay the 48 Bucks! - I really dont have the time to concern myself with that sort of behavior

it is quite PITIFUL though

LOL - They are using an opensource project (without links) to make me pay for it!

can it get any worst?

any help on artio 2.3.0 ?

Hi all
*hint: diff on those files..
Result:
in sef_class.php, line 503:


replace with:


But, I have not tested that one yet, since I still run 2.2.7.

Happy 'puting!

in vers. 2.3.0

this line is 1005

Btw: tested and is working ok in 2.3.0

Very strange.
I insist: in the one com_joomsef-2.3.0.zip, in sef.class.php, it is line 503.
line 1005 looks like

Did you have line-wrap in your editor activated or not?!
Anyhow, we don't want to fight about line numbers... :-)
important is: initializing $buf with nothing.

D.

you're right

but you don't edit sef.class.php from com_joomsef-2.3.0.zip
you EDIT sef.class.php from your server, root: ./administrator/components/com_sef
on this location on line 1005 you have the above code

Does anyone know how to get rid of the links in version 3.2.0?

EDIT: Have already found the solution by myself:
viewtopic.php?f=471&t=317769

Very sneaky tactic by developer!

I searched for "JoomSEF SEO by Artio, sponsored by Prague Hotels" on Google and there are 340 results(victims)!

Why is this extension in Joomla directory then? It should be removed!