The Pipeline

1 < 6  A note from RichP

The previous newsletter had the title "6 < 9", referring to how often this note gets updated.  I'm trying to do better, and since 1 month is less than 6, I'll call it "progress in the right direction" and keep going from there.

Unfortunately, this issue is coming out because of a couple problems that I think VS-TEN members (and surfers) need to be aware of... there is good news coming, but it's been a rough couple days, and there are some things you should know.

Our automated email is down for a while

Someone hacked server1.varisearch.com this morning, and tried to send a huge amount of spam email.  We caught it early on, and got the hack removed, and deleted the queued email.  Some of it went out, but less than 10% of what the program was intended to do.

As a safety precaution, all automated email on server1 is suspended for now.  That means newsletters, sign-up emails, and password reminders are offline at the following sites until at least Tuesday:

• TrEx: http://trex.varisearch.com
• VS-TEN: http://vs-ten.varisearch.com
• Twister: http://rotate.varisearch.com
• Main Directory: http://varisearch.com

You can still send me (richp) notes, and I can respond; only the automated mail (i.e.: noreply) was affected.

Also, if you sent me email between 10 am and 2pm eastern, I may not have received it, because I was deleting literally thousands of bounce and administrative notes, and may have deleted some "real" email in the process.

What is 'honest' surfing?  Tale of a cheater.

This question doesn't get asked enough.  So I'm going to ask and answer it.  "Honest" means using a system the way it was intended to be used.  When you talk about auto-surf systems, a lot of people want to talk about "gray areas".  Here's my take:

• If you look at the pages you are surfing, you are being honest.  That is what advertisers want and need.
• If you glance at just the pages that catch your eye, you are STILL on the up-and-up  That is what advertisers need and deserve.
• I have a small problem with tabbed browsing... many pages will come up that don't have a chance to catch your eye.  However, this falls in the "but it's still traffic" category, because you COULD look at the pages.  Most advertisers are cool with this, too.
• But, if you use a system that guarantees you will NEVER see a page, that is cheating.
  • Remember that many sites have a requirement that you look at the pages, or don't use a system to fool the rotator.  Some people think this only applies to auto-clicking on manual sites, but it applies to autosurf sites as well.
  •  
  • The bottom line is that it is unethical: Advertisers are spending credits for very low-value traffic.
• Further, if you CREATE a system like this for others, that is worse than cheating.
  • It is aiding and abetting others to cheat.
  • In other words, someone who CREATES AND SELLS such a system is enabling fraud.
  • The reason for this missive is to discuss one such cheating system

Over the weekend, I was sent a link to a site that "sells" easy autosurfing.  There were several shockers to this:

• Someone was selling access to one of my traffic exchanges, without my permission.
• They were promoting this as "unlimited autosurf credits"
• The idea was if you paid this clown some money ($90 I believe), he would set up a page for you that could "surf" 10-20 or even more sites, all from one convenient page.

The objective of autosurfing (or any surfing) is that users (humans) can see the pages without having to click to see the next page.  Advertisers enjoy the promotional benefits, and also the site ranking benefits of the added viewers.  While there are always 50-tab-window-browser credit hogs, there are usually not that many of them.

But there's a fellow now going around promoting this ridiculous cheat page.  I'd post the link, but we had his host shut down his current site.  I'm sure he'll start again somewhere else.

I will do my best to NOT stick my foot in my mouth, but here's what I've seen:

Someone named Dale Johnson is promoting this 'script' that provides junk surfing.  He operates out of Las Vegas, Nevada, and has email addresses such as cashvisitors - at - yahoo.com  (yes, even though he has done bad, I am making it so that the spam-bots won't pick up his email so quickly).  He uses handles like:

• "cashvisitors", and he promotes the main page of that site
• "hpsoftware2002" - also a yahoo email address
• hpplatinum at cafe press. 
• He is related to one or two toolbar vendors including SpeedTrafficBar.ourtoolbar.com
• He has or had a site called hpsoftware at the 2ya.com host.

I have sent him email, and he has not responded.  Kevin (from NWTWebWorks) has sent, ahem, more strongly worded emails, and this guy responds like he's done nothing wrong!  Here's his defense when asked about the 1x1 inch windows:

As if 300x300 was enough space to actually show a splash page.... and it misses the entire point: AutoSurfers must remember - surfers are advertisers, too.  The whole point of surfing is to SEE and BE SEEN.

On almost every VS-TrEx-based site, there is a terms and conditions page that contains the following statement:

Conditions of Use

By using this service, you agree that you will not attempt to undermine the integrity, appearance, or reputation of our site.

Clearly, using any system that deliberately undersizes the display window undermines the appearance of our site,  not to mention site integrity (since the windows distort when showing a 468 banner in a 300 window, that is a literal meaning).

Again, regardless of what "weasel words" are around, the basic issue is whether users are seeing the other users' sites.  With software like Mr. Johnson is putting out, the answer is "no".

I'm not a lawyer, so I'm not saying his software is "illegal".  I AM a traffic exchange owner (and author), and DO say the software he is promoting IS UNETHICAL, and using it is considered - by myself and many other exchange owners - to be CHEATING.

Keep in mind: This is not just happening at VS-TrEx: I sent a note about this out on the vs-ten alert system, and 3 non-trex site owners reported similar issues from the same user (based on email or handles or what he promoted).

At VS-TrEx, we have created a 'countermeasure' that can stop this cheat script.  As we learn about other sites being abused, we will install the countermeasure at each site.

We have blacklisted his sites at vs-ten, with comments.  If we find other such sites, let us know and we will blacklist them as well.  This kind of behavior must be dealt with by all of us; after all, it is OUR ads that he's shrinking.

On to happier news

We have expanded the system to contain a spider, so that publishers can get their full sites online more quickly.

At some publishers' requests, we have added an optional 'privacy' feature, to keep URLs away from snooping eyes.

For more information, check out the previous pipeline newsletter, or just visit http://www.linksincontext.com

AdBrite

We now have about 30 adbrite sites properly flagged.  If your exchange allows adbrite, it will not impact you.  If your site does not allow adbrite, we will prevent these sites from being shown on your rotator.

From previous development list

We've been working on several systems, both inside and outside of VS-TEN: 

• 1.4.0.0 of VS-TrEx got delayed again; first with a PayPal change, then with a hotpatch, now with another patch to deal with this cheater.  We're hoping to put it out this week.
   
  
• The VS/2 alpha was delayed, but should come online before the end of November.  The main prototype will be at VariSearch.com.  This will include a membership system, automatic placement of sites, and spidering of site information to provide better experience for both promoters and search-users.
   
  
• Once the VS/2 beta is out, we're going back to VS-TEN.com, which will be the new home for vs-ten, and will start offering things for non-traffic-exchange-owners as well.  We're hoping to have that up before the end of 2007.

Reminder: Build your referrals:

Don't forget about the new Membership Logo.  You can add one to your site by logging in, and getting the code from your Incoming Views details page.  [It's slightly different for each site.]

If you want to promote VS-TEN the "traditional way", our referral page is:
http://vs-ten.varisearch.com/refer.php?ref=###
(Where ### is your VS-TEN member ID #)

You can also use our banner (more coming shortly).  The banner is at:
http://vs-ten.varisearch.com/images/banner1.gif

Last, you can make a link directly to the sign-up page, as well:
http://vs-ten.varisearch.com/Beta/Signup/join.php?ref=###
(Where ### is your VS-TEN member ID #)

Quick links:

• Scoreboard: http://vs-ten.varisearch.com/Status/volume.shtm
• Member's area: http://vs-ten.varisearch.com/Beta/members.php
• Latest Newsletter: http://vs-ten.varisearch.com/status.shtm
• Commercial Site: http://thelinkring.com
• Our traffic exchange software: http://vs-trex.com