Want to remove spammy links in ARTIO JoomSEF

[drcoolj]

I installed it and noticed in my source code these hidden links

JoomSEF SEO by Artio, sponsored by Prague Hotels.

Any idea how to remove them?

great addon
slimmy stuff..

they do mention this

Advertisement Notice
JoomSEF may add user-invisible links pointing to websites of JoomSEF authors (ARTIO s.r.o.) and/or to its sponsors. Such links appear in page footers or meta tag fields of pages, where it is used. This has no direct influence to functionality of your site.

Similarily to Joomla! software, these may be removed if you wish to do so. However, by keeping them, you help us develop the software further and increase the number of users.

[mpettitt]

Cheeky gits...

I don't have any objections to components that require attribution - I don't use them, but that's only because the company I work for is fussy about them. However, they should always announce this in listings (such as JED), and if this has changed since an earlier version, this should be mentioned clearly on the download page as well.

Attached file seems to remove the embedding code. Unzip, upload to your components/com_sef directory and overwrite existing one. This may get undone by automated upgrades, so be prepared to check if every so often.

[72dpi]

I agree,
I would rather they make you pay for this, than to add this kind of "hidden" spam.

My hat off to them for their work, and I encourage people to always donate when a component helps.

My only hope for this one is to decrease the DB calls, and make it good for big sites.

if you don't like this spam, find:

components > com_sef > sef.php
Find:

Code: Select all

 
// Frontpage code.
$_VERSION->URL .= $checkA[0];
$_VERSION->COPYRIGHT .= $checkA[1];

and:

Code: Select all

// Other page code.
$_VERSION->URL .= $checkA[2];
$_VERSION->COPYRIGHT .= $checkA[3];

Comment this out, but as I said, if it helps, then support these guys.

[Noroc]

Hello,
Would anyone know how to do this in the newer versions of Artio SEF? (i have v2.1.1)
I can't find those lines in sef.php so they probably changed the way they are generated, but it's still unpleasant to have them in the "Generator" meta-tag.
Alternatively, could we simply tell Joomla NOT to use the Generator tag?
Thanks,
Andrei

[nigelbb]

If you Google on "kanga internet artio sef" you will find a link to a site where an Aussie has a patched spam free version of Artio SEF.

Cheers

Nigel

[cdiprose]

link to my site

Kanga Internet - Joomsef Patched Version

go to website and then on the menu "Downloads" ..

only have versions from 1.4.0 to 2.1.0 .. there is only minimal change between 2.1.0 and 2.1.1 sub-version.  not worth my time to patch it at this point.

[simon_w]

Alternatively, could we simply tell Joomla NOT to use the Generator tag?

sh404sef, far and away my first choice, will allow you to remove the generator tag.  It's also free, open-source, and has no spam/ads etc.

Just my tuppence-worth... 

[cdiprose]

yes .. absolutely you can do that but Artio also encode another hidden advert which shows in the "bottom" module position.

So not only do Artio put hidden text in the meta gen tag but also a fully fledged link text advert in the "bottom" module position.

if you are happy having a component that does this then go right ahead.  Alternatively you can use sh404sef if you wish.

My personal preference is for JoomSEF without the adverts but lets not get into a sh404sef vs joomSEF argument as they are both so close in functionality, look and feel and end result it is pointless ..

[PROSIDER]

Hy,

I have ARTIO JoomSEF v2.2.1.

For delete spammy link, you must open this file and delete content.
joomla\administrator\components\com_sef\signature.b64



Regards,
Stéphane

[PROSIDER]

I sorry that doesn t work .... 

I try it againt and i find a solution.

Doesn' t change the content about this file : signature.b64

Open joomla\administrator\components\com_sef\joomla\sef.class.php at line 415

Replace this line by :

        // Debut - Copyright
        // eval(base64_decode('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'));
        // DEB Traduction base_34_decode
            $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 == md5($checkstr));
            function xmlParsing($path, $base, $index, $option)
            {
            global $_VERSION, $sefCheckA;
            if (($path == $base)
            || ($path == ($base.$index))
            || (@$option == 'com_frontpage')) {
            // frontpage code
            $_VERSION->URL .= 'toto' ; //$sefCheckA[0];
            $_VERSION->COPYRIGHT .= 'toto' ; //$sefCheckA[1];
            }
            else {
            // other page code
            $_VERSION->URL .= 'toto' ; //$sefCheckA[2];
            $_VERSION->COPYRIGHT .= 'toto' ; //$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) != '<?php') {
            $txt = base64_encode($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;
            }
            // FIN Traduction base_34_decode

Save file and try it 


Regards
Stéphane

[cdiprose]

Clearly this last post by PROSIDER does not work.  If you want a real working version of the component come to my site, in my signature and get a free working version.

Why some people try and re-invent the wheel i will never know!?

[nigelbb]

Clearly this last post by PROSIDER does not work.  If you want a real working version of the component come to my site, in my signature and get a free working version.

Why some people try and re-invent the wheel i will never know!?

Probably because PROSIDER has the latest version 2.2.1 & the version on your site is 2.2.0

[cdiprose]

maybe

[PROSIDER]

My answer is for the last version v2.1.1

Hello,
Would anyone know how to do this in the newer versions of Artio SEF? (i have v2.1.1)
I can't find those lines in sef.php so they probably changed the way they are generated, but it's still unpleasant to have them in the "Generator" meta-tag.
Alternatively, could we simply tell Joomla NOT to use the Generator tag?
Thanks,

I search how to remove advert on Internet (inglish, spanish, french sites), without find.
Cdiprose, i find your site on google for this version Artio Joomsef 1.5,  but i don t find this page (http://www.kangainternet.com/remository/joomsef.html)!

So, i explain how to remove Advert.

[xtian3.0]

Well, i did not spent so much time.... I have 2.2.2

Edit /components/com_sef/sef.php and comment with "#" the line no.150

            #xmlParsing($URI->path, $base, $index, @$option);

It works for me  :P

any comments?

[kixon]

Great it works! But the line is 158.

Thanx and have a nice day!

KIXON-slo

[dubraise]

yes .. absolutely you can do that but Artio also encode another hidden advert which shows in the "bottom" module position.

So not only do Artio put hidden text in the meta gen tag but also a fully fledged link text advert in the "bottom" module position.

if you are happy having a component that does this then go right ahead.  Alternatively you can use sh404sef if you wish.

My personal preference is for JoomSEF without the adverts but lets not get into a sh404sef vs joomSEF argument as they are both so close in functionality, look and feel and end result it is pointless ..

you remove theartio advert and you put text link back to your site!!! where s the difference

[Comenius]

Well, i did not spent so much time.... I have 2.2.2

Edit /components/com_sef/sef.php and comment with "#" the line no.150

            #xmlParsing($URI->path, $base, $index, @$option);

It works for me  :P

any comments?

This worked perfectly.  Thank you! 

[fcsmobile]

Hi guys

My page crashed in the Google SERPs - so I'm really interested in the artio spam topic - I'm using JoomSEF 2.2.2 - free version. So my simple question is:

Where is this spam located?
In the generator meta tag only?
What about the bottom module position? I can't find any Spam...

Everybody is talking about this spam problem but nobody is talking about the actual appearance

I'd be very grateful for any tips and hints!
Felix

[Comenius]

The spam links appear in the HEAD section, specifically the META NAME GENERATOR tag.  It replaces the standard Joomla META NAME GENERATOR tag and appends it with the Artio spam links.

There are no links elsewhere, but the ones that were there were referencing immigration assistance in Germany, plastic surgery in Michigan, and some other oddball thing that was completely out of context with the theme of my site.

I know at minimum that Google was parsing these because I would occassionally see AdSense ads on my site referencing their topics.  I had wondered for a long time how in the heck Google was thinking they were relevant to my site, but upon seeing this thread, the lightbulb went on.

Commenting out the one xmlParsing line referenced above caused them to disappear, and I am no longer seeing random AdSense ads.

Not sure how this could impact SERP's, but I can't imagine it helps in any way, and so I chose to disable them for that reason as well.

[fcsmobile]

Hi Comenius,

thank you so much for these interesting information! The adsense issue is a good point!

In my opinion the artio joomsef bot is responsable for replacing the meta information. When I switched of this bot my spam problem was solved. I searched for "artio", "Michigan", ... in my source code show by firefox - nothing found.

So swichting of this special bot seems to be a good solution too... I'll look out for crazy adsense ads in the future! Why are the Artio guys doing such things... They already get 30€ for 1 hour support time

Greetings,
Felix

[gingibash]

cdiprose,

first of all thanks for the patched versions you release. I am using your joomsef 2.1.0 and now i want to upgrade to 2.2.2 but automatic upgrade does not work. I will appreciate any suggestion?

[aelc]

I had a look at the patch suggestion for 2.2.1 but the instruction are a bit ambiguous.

What is the best way to upgrade from 2.2.1 to 2.2.2 using the patched version? I dont want to lose all my saved urls.


One way to offset the effects of Google picking up nonsense content and feeding the wrong adds is to use focusing on your pages.

The bits you don't want the google bot to take any notice of should be wrapped in the comments:



and




Conversely, the bits of valuable content that you do want the bot to focus on should be wrapped in



and




More about how to implement this is in the help section at Adsense.

[aelc]

To answer my previous question !!! Back up database - Uninstall old joomsef - Install new joomsef - restore database - and all is rosy (except for Kanga spam that replaced artio spam) So . . . .

To remove the Spam links from the Kanga patch ver 2.2.3

Go to administrator/components/com_sef

Delete files checksum.md5 & signature.b64

That got rid of the Kanga spam link in the Generator meta tag for me  Nothing seems to have broken yet  :P

And to see it in action: http://www.aelc.edu.au/

[fcsmobile]

Thank you for this information! Seems to work perfectly! 

I still don't understand why changing someones spammy meta tags into his own spammy meta tags  could be useful for others

Now, Artio will change their license system and remove the spam links. That's good news. Also they are supporting again via forum. Good news.

[theneonlobster]

does anyone else think it's ridiculous that the aussie's 'spam free patch' simply replaces artio's spam with his own?  i'm seriously disappointed.  oh well, artio's gonna be getting some money from me.

AND erasing the md5 and that other file didn't remove them.  what a crock!  anyone reading this to fix artio's advert, JUST BUY THE SOFTWARE.  it's not expensive, and it's easier than dealing with the aussie's bs 'patch'

[simon_w]

anyone who hasn't done should should consider checking out sh404sef.  In cdiprose (Kanga Internet)'s words, "lets not get into a sh404sef vs joomSEF argument as they are both so close in functionality, look and feel and end result it is pointless", but of course sh404sef doesn't have the spam....  In addition, this comment was made before the latest release of sh404sef, which is a significant step-change, offering greatly improved security, and tighter integration with Joom!Fish.

Just FYI, I have no connection with shumisha (the author of sh404sef) other than that he's helped me with a few customisations, and have no ulterior motive here (unlike some...) - I'm just an satisfied user.

[davidp]

This comment is directed to Chris from Kanga Internet,

Thanks for taking the time to make a patched version of Artio JoomSEF!  I see that in your latest version, it appears that you have replaced Artio's links at the bottom of the page with your own.  I wanted to find out if there is any possibility of removing these?

I will be happy to and will include a link to your website from my links page--just not from the bottom of the site.

Best Regards,
David

[nigelbb]

I think that it's pretty despicable for Kangainternet to replace Artio's spammy links & metatags with their own. Particularly as until 2 months ago (up to version 2.2.0) they were providing a patched spam free version. Now on their web site they have the latest Artio JoomSEF 2.2.4 in a 'Patched' version but what it doesn't tell you on the web site is that they have patched it with their own spammy links. I don't want these crappy links at the bottom of my front page :-
"Web Design | Web Developers | SEO | Online Marketing | Web Designers Melbourne"

I have searched high & low throughout the site source code & in the database but can't find where this is being stuffed in. I can remove it by deleting the last three lines on includes/footer.php but that also removes the "Joomla! is Free Software released under the GNU/GPL License" line which I actually don't mind displaying.

Because of Kangainternet's deceit over replacing one set of spammy links with their own I wouldn't in any case trust that their patched version didn't have some other trapdoor or malicious code in it so I won't be installing it on any of my sites.

[davidp]

I tend to identify with what you are saying Nigel.  It's a pity.  I feel that Artio/Kanga JoomSEF is better than all the other SEF solutions. 

From my perspective, the organisation's constitution that I am building a website for does not allow any advertisement links such as the ones Kanga Internet and Artio place, unsolicited, at the bottom of our pages.  So they lose out and I lose out.  I'm sure my case is not altogether unique either.

I am sure many people would appreciate a comment from Chris from Kanga Internet so as to clarify why these things are so.