I've been noticing for a little while that on this forum alone, out-of-site links to things like adfly or any other site seem to go through "api.viglink.com" first. It seems like a legit site from searching, but I'm just wondering if this is there on purpose to raise money for the forum or something?
It only seems to be on here, which is why I'm not doing more extensive research.
For instance, going to a mod author's website (iChun's blog, Universal Electricity, etc) or simply to a download link for a single file.
I first noticed it when going to Binaryimage to get the Mystcraft mod.
It doesn't seem to happen all the time, only sometimes.
EDIT: After poking around in my browser history, I managed to find an instance of this happening.
Viglink is a affiliate link tracking system. Why this is there is possibly from a ad, or the site is using such service. But I doubt MCF is using such service or Curse network entirely. I would say if you do not want to be tracked, there is a simple solution to "fix" it, but given I do not know validity of what I say about Curse or MCF and this service, I will not provide for it is harmless if they do legitimately use or have such in which I do not intend to do harm to their revenue. It is not the kind of like Tracking cookie, it only tracks if someone clicks a link that leads somewhere else and tracks till they leave that site. Ultimately could just say like text click based ads.
Break down of what it is basically.
Say you go to Amazon and buy something, but you went directly to Amazon. Therefore only Amazon gets profit from such.
But say you advertise Amazon on your site or something on a product and someone clicks and buys that, you get profit from that purchase as they followed the link from your site to that product.
This is or should NOT be used for ad service as it is not a ad service. It is mostly supplemental.
Not just like limited to click to purchases. It is also used in Monetization affiliate/referral links as well. Given this case though, it sounds as if just affiliate. However Pinkies will know far more on this then most here as they know the site and what it uses.
So, does that mean it had to have been put there on purpose, like through a virus? Or is this something Curse put in?
Curse have had Scorecardresearch's tracking stuff for years. Curse likes to give users browsing habbits away.
Some quotes from Curse's Privacy Policy:
We may use your personal information to provide analyses of our users in the aggregate to prospective partners, advertisers and other third parties. We may also disclose and otherwise use, on an anonymous basis, affiliation, position, interests and other non-personal information about customers.
This Privacy Policy does not cover the information practices of third party websites linked to the Site(s) or third party offer and/or newsletter opt-ins provided through the Site(s). Although we encourage such third parties to adopt and follow their own privacy policies, we are not responsible for their collection and use of your personal information. You should refer to the privacy policies and statements of other websites or contact the respective webmasters of those websites to obtain information regarding their information collection, use and disclosure policies.
Aka, we won't give out your house address but anything you do on a Curse site is probably going to be tracked and given to 3rd parties who can do anything they want with it.
Aka, we won't give out your house address but anything you do on a Curse site is probably going to be tracked and given to 3rd parties who can do anything they want with it.
Sounds pretty standard for the internet.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Theevilpplz is so fabulous, hetrosexual men turn bi when he passes by.
Not really. Most sites have links in there privacy policy to the services they use (Google Ad's, twitter, etc) which may track people so they can goto them and click on there don't track me button (Saying 3rd Parties may do stuff isn't transparent enough). Curse have a link so you don't have to be tracked by google and other advertisers but thats only because if they didn't they would be in violation of Google Ad's policy(And i am guessing other advertisers). There is nothing about scorecardresearch or viglink.
In this day and age where alot of people don't want to be tracked there should be transparency and opt-outs. Especially from a large website network.
In this day and age where alot of people don't want to be tracked there should be transparency and opt-outs. Especially from a large website network.
Or you could just not use the service. That's always an option too. Honestly, what kind of information could they get out of this that they could use against you?
Considering that they are not a vital part to any of the curse sites running why would anyone not use the service when they can block the offending websites in there hosts file. Once they actually realise that Curse uses them (That's kinda the problem).
Considering that they are not a vital part to any of the curse sites running why would anyone not use the service when they can block the offending websites in there hosts file. Once they actually realise that Curse uses them (That's kinda the problem).
Curse is a company. They are legally allowed to use it. They'll stop using it when it hurts their income enough. Not using the service and getting others to boycott it as well is really all you can do to start making a difference in the end.
Curse is a company. They are legally allowed to use it. They'll stop using it when it hurts their income enough. Not using the service and getting others to boycott it as well is really all you can do to start making a difference in the end.
No one has said anything about it being illegal. No one has said curse can't use whatever tracking they want to. Why would i want to start a boycott over an issue that can be solved by modifying my hosts file to block the two tracking services? Would be kinda extreme over an issue thats easily solved once you know it existed in the first place.
All i have said is that there should be transparency about what tracking services are used.
All i have said is that there should be transparency about what tracking services are used.
Okay then, misinterpreted what you said. Eh, might as well have transparency. The only real kind of people who cares about that kind of thing though is the kind that would search it out a nyway.
It only seems to be on here, which is why I'm not doing more extensive research.
I first noticed it when going to Binaryimage to get the Mystcraft mod.
It doesn't seem to happen all the time, only sometimes.
EDIT: After poking around in my browser history, I managed to find an instance of this happening.
Break down of what it is basically.
Say you go to Amazon and buy something, but you went directly to Amazon. Therefore only Amazon gets profit from such.
But say you advertise Amazon on your site or something on a product and someone clicks and buys that, you get profit from that purchase as they followed the link from your site to that product.
This is or should NOT be used for ad service as it is not a ad service. It is mostly supplemental.
Not just like limited to click to purchases. It is also used in Monetization affiliate/referral links as well. Given this case though, it sounds as if just affiliate. However Pinkies will know far more on this then most here as they know the site and what it uses.
Its because its literally embeded in the site at the bottom of the html.
Another tracking site to add to my hosts file.
Minecraft Info - Game Requirements - Minecraft Screensaver - MCI Craft
It comes up as well as a "You have won an Ipad/Iphone" and send you directly to the site no matter what you do.
If curse put it in, it must benefit them in some way.
Curse have had Scorecardresearch's tracking stuff for years. Curse likes to give users browsing habbits away.
Some quotes from Curse's Privacy Policy:
Aka, we won't give out your house address but anything you do on a Curse site is probably going to be tracked and given to 3rd parties who can do anything they want with it.
Minecraft Info - Game Requirements - Minecraft Screensaver - MCI Craft
Sounds pretty standard for the internet.
Not really. Most sites have links in there privacy policy to the services they use (Google Ad's, twitter, etc) which may track people so they can goto them and click on there don't track me button (Saying 3rd Parties may do stuff isn't transparent enough). Curse have a link so you don't have to be tracked by google and other advertisers but thats only because if they didn't they would be in violation of Google Ad's policy(And i am guessing other advertisers). There is nothing about scorecardresearch or viglink.
In this day and age where alot of people don't want to be tracked there should be transparency and opt-outs. Especially from a large website network.
Minecraft Info - Game Requirements - Minecraft Screensaver - MCI Craft
Or you could just not use the service. That's always an option too. Honestly, what kind of information could they get out of this that they could use against you?
Considering that they are not a vital part to any of the curse sites running why would anyone not use the service when they can block the offending websites in there hosts file. Once they actually realise that Curse uses them (That's kinda the problem).
Minecraft Info - Game Requirements - Minecraft Screensaver - MCI Craft
No one has said anything about it being illegal. No one has said curse can't use whatever tracking they want to. Why would i want to start a boycott over an issue that can be solved by modifying my hosts file to block the two tracking services? Would be kinda extreme over an issue thats easily solved once you know it existed in the first place.
All i have said is that there should be transparency about what tracking services are used.
Minecraft Info - Game Requirements - Minecraft Screensaver - MCI Craft