Smoking banner box warning . . .

[Idahojo]

I saw this the other day and now I can't find it again. It was a post warning about the quit smoking banners and counters. It was telling about the creators of these banners using us for our emails and free advertising and spam and stuff. I was telling a forum member about it and can't find the post. I think it should be in a thread all it's own. Anyone know where it it?

 

[CssReb]

I never entered my email.

 

[tribalmasters]

Me neither just when I quit.

 

[Idahojo]

Found it under thread "Signatures........" Post #33. Go there for the original pics of banners and colors.

Supplier "SmokeFree" aka Healthier e-Choice Getting Free Links On The Forum?????!!!!!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please read, don't be an unwitting pawn in a sneaky supplier scheme.



Functions disabled in this real specimen (from Calaban's post elsewhere), but not in his or yours!!!!! Click on them and see!!!!!

Here's another example of the same trick by another supplier:


Functions disabled in this real specimen (from Catanonia's post above), but not in his or yours!!!!! Click on them and see!!!!! Catanonia removed his now: Bravo!

This one has "email optional" and looks innocuous but strikingly (scarily?) similar to the other landing site. It may use the same source code - but it also runs a server side PHP script that can be programmed to do anything at anytime.



His script is on

Sparkletags - Myspace Comments, Myspace Profile 2.0 Layouts, Myspace v2 Layouts, Myspace Layouts, Hi5, Friendster, Graphics, Comments, And Layouts

Do you want to be associated with that site? They might be OK, some MLM affiliate type get rich quick stuff there and tons of religious stuff. But that could change at any minute and your linking to who knows what or why.

PLEASE: Know what you are doing and who you are dealing with.

These look innocent and cool, right? Wrong! They're a sneaky trick and if you get suckered to use them you're an unwitting part of it... over 37000 of us and growing like an epidemic by the minute.

Read on:

SJ Posted about signatures being under 5K. To save bandwidth.

Note that the "smoke free" signature that was originally from "haqur.com" was recently "acquired" by the "trademarked" SmokeFree on 3-23 or so. (Look carefully at the words "smoke free" on the earlier version - supposedly a labor of love - and compare to the "SmokeFreeTM" on the version since 3-23, a version which is now an MLM marketer's stealth tool that each of you is hosting, as unwitting as it may be).

Couldn't find a TM assigned to "Health e-Choice" either (as claimed) who is SmokeFree. Nada TMs.

So you are providing a free link to Health e-Choice, a supplier selling the "SmokeFree" which looks to me like the Cixi (e-cig) E9. (like current S51, EAZE Magnum, Red Dragon, Bloog, eSmoke, etc.).

They have an aggressive and deep channel (Pyramid) "MLM" has your email address and is using this to collect more. Anyone who started using this meter since 3-23 or so, now has a direct link to them in their signature or wherever else they paste the code.

Now I don't think it will save much bandwidth (about 6K), it would help, depending on how many members use it - the jpg or png is hosted elsewhere but...

How do you feel about putting a link up to a supplier in your sig? How do you feel about never knowing it?

The same goes for the vape version which links to another, I beleive, non-sponsoring supplier.

When you use these thingies you are not only helping them you are running a script on their server - which can be programmed by them to do anything at anytime. I deleted even the pre SmokeFree one because of this. Haqur rhymes with......

I think suppliers should support the forum but not advertise. (Is that possible?).

Members should be aware that they are inadvertently linking to un-supporting suppliers who are mining email addresses by using what otherwise were once just cute, informative meters.

I suppose you can beat it somewhat by using a phony email (you might set someone else up by doing so) to get the cute banner, but it is programmed and linked anyways and that's out of your control. UPDATE: e-mail may not be required anymore, It now works with no email entered - still links.

So far, they've got 37,000+ "advertisers" and email addys. Nice trick, right under your nose.

I'm working on a safe ECF version that will be hosted right here when approved and totally controlled by SJ. Will let you know when done. Accepting ideas for it now (logos, what to meter, etc.).

In the meantime I would get rid of those now and hope you don't get spammed when they decide to blast-off.
__________________
eSmoke.net

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last edited by esmok-e; 04-09-2009 at 09:06 AM.

 

[Letzin Hale]

You can't get scummier than a scumbag scammer

I shall ask around to see if one of my friends can do a script for us with no crap attached, maybe even customise it for the forum.
Alan.

 

[Idahojo]

That would nice. Be really nice if it came with instructions for the dumber than dumb too. LOL (yes that would be me)

 

[tribalmasters]

Is mine a bad one?

 

[Idahojo]

Is mine a bad one?

I don't know. When I copied the original post it did not include the pics of the banners. I don't know why. I'm not as skilled as the rest of you. Go to the original and check out if it is. The info is at the top.

 

[ShimmyPrincess]

I can't get rid of mine...hummmmm
deleted it and it's still here

Edit- got rid of it...sneaky jerks

 

[CandyGirl]

thanks for the heads up Jo

i wonder if this banner is detected by adaware or spybot?

anyone know?

 

[Kendra]

Is mine a bad one?

When one clicks on it, they get this site. It's not "bad" though, but it is a free link to their site and I think that's what upsets some people. That site provided you and others with a free banner, but if someone clicks on it, they get to that site which is a for-profit site. That's not necessarily "bad", though-- it's just commerce.

 

[Caesarea]

Well, trying something else, in any case.

 

[Lika]

Is mine a bad one?

Tribal,

Yours goes directly to somkewithoutfire (dot) com

So, yeah, that's a direct link to a supplier's web site that sells the products. They're getting a free link from the banner and a bit of indirect advertising too. If that banner is clicked it goes to the banner page where another one can be created. That page also includes a link to their home page. At least it doesn't require you to enter an email to use the code.

I'm kind of on the fence about this one though. If they're providing a service "banners" why not credit them with a link back to their site? I mean it's this for that, right?

The only thing I see wrong with this particular one is they're not totally upfront about it. The banner should say who is sponsoring it so the user is aware what they're doing. Thus giving them the opportunity to make an informed decision. Otherwise, it's just sneaky on the suppliers part, IMO.

 

[Lika]

When one clicks on it, they get this site. It's not "bad" though, but it is a free link to their site and I think that's what upsets some people. That site provided you and others with a free banner, but if someone clicks on it, they get to that site which is a for-profit site. That's not necessarily "bad", though-- it's just commerce.

Ahh... I'm running a bit slow, you beat me to it, Kendra

 

[Kitabz]

Please read, don't be an unwitting pawn in a sneaky supplier scheme. <big snip>

I'm confused, what exactly is the problem?

Handing over an e-mail address is optional and the provided signature link can be edited to remove the link back to the supplier's site anyway.

The server side PHP script that creates the banner can be modified at any time... so what? If the script is changed to produce an image that says "e-smoking kills" [or whatever] people can just take the banner out of their signature. This potentially applies to any imbedded image using the tags allowable in our posts.

The banners' bandwidth is coming from the supplier of the banner not SJs servers.

I really don't see what the problem is.

 

[nitewriter]

thanks for the heads up Jo

i wonder if this banner is detected by adaware or spybot?

anyone know?

Adaware cleaned it out for me Candy.

I PM"d "esmoke-e" (Who originally posted this problem) about this, and started having major issues within minutes of his reply. (Weird timing?)

I dumped the banner and scanned everything. All is well again.

 

[Nick O'Teen]

I'm working on a safe ECF version that will be hosted right here when approved and totally controlled by SJ. Will let you know when done. Accepting ideas for it now (logos, what to meter, etc.).

The ability to measure not just the number of cigarettes avoided, but eg: quantity of RYO or pipe tobacco avoided would be awesome!
I've searched all over, and not been able to find any counters that can do this.

It is worth pointing out that the URL link can be disabled on most of these banners by simply deleting the {URL} and {/URL} tags around the graphic in the bbcode you copy into your sig. But it's very true that it pays to keep an eye on your sig, in case the graphic suddenly turns into something you DON'T want to be displaying.

 

[tribalmasters]

Mine links to Smoke without fire when I click it giving the option of creating your own banner. Smoke without fire seem to resell Pillbox38s vapes. Should I get rid of it or is it OK??

OK I was a bit slow there, my question was answered hehe!

 

[tribalmasters]

So should I delete mine? I have become quite attached to it now hehe!

 

[CandyGirl]

thanks for the info nitewriter.

good to know it's easily eliminated if anyone has a problem with it.

Kitabz,

i would concur with Lika here,

"The only thing I see wrong with this particular one is they're not totally upfront about it. The banner should say who is sponsoring it so the user is aware what they're doing. Thus giving them the opportunity to make an informed decision. Otherwise, it's just sneaky on the suppliers part, IMO."

it's amazing how many little "scripts" can be running in the background while i'm trying to use my PC. all those little apps can add up after awhile.
i have no problem with any freeware links as long as they're upfront and have been cleared by adaware/spybot. tit for tat - that's fine.

i will raise an eyebrow if someone wants to install something on my machine without disclosing exactly what they expect in return for using it.
just let me know - that's all, hell i'll even recommend it if i think it's beneficial or even if it's just a fun little application.

try to be sneaky or just "forget" to disclose something that may or may not cause a conflict on my machine and i'll delete it on general principal.
i'll also recommend the deletion to everyone i know and report it as suspicious malware.

if you want my business,
say what you do and do what you say.

i don't think that's a lot to ask.