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Author Topic: Is my Email Hidden? How do I hide it?  (Read 4585 times)
Barry Scott

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« on: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 12:22:56 »

Okay, i've noticed many people who aren't so much wondering how to hide their email, but believe that when they do hide it, it isn't actually hidden, so i thought i'd bosh this out for you all to see and understand how it works.

First let it be known that you can always see your own email. You can also see the emails of those who haven't hidden theirs, although that email is still hidden from spammers.

Email, regardless of whether you ask for it to be hidden or not, is hidden within the source code from Spiders and Bots, so no scraping of the forum can go on to use your email address for spam.
 
This is achieved in 2 ways, first of all the direct link to your email is not a direct link at all, if you click "view">"Page Source" within your browesr then hit "ctrl" + F (for search) and type in your email, it will not be found, regardless of whether you are hidden or not. If it does find your email, that is because you have a AIM/MSN/Yahoo/ICQ link.

Here's the member list from the perspective of a member (Email Test) and they don't have their email hidden (notice Email Test has an envelope by his name and no one else does, this is because everyone else is set to hidden, even if Email Test was set to hidden, his own envelope would still be there).


http://thetownend.com/email_pics/memberlist%20unhidden.gif


As you can see the email appears to be visible, but if you search the source for the email, nothing will be found, as below.


http://thetownend.com/email_pics/source%20search.gif


Also, unless a member is registered, they can't view the member list, and even if they do register, all actual emails (with the exception of chat client links) are removed from the HTML source code to prevent harvesting (as mentioned above).


http://thetownend.com/email_pics/non%20regd%20memberlist.gif


Now, to hide your email, go to "Profile" then click on "Account Related Settings" under "modify profile".

Simply check the box, "Hide email address from public".


http://thetownend.com/email_pics/modify%20profile.gif


Guests of the forum can't see your details regardless, when they come to the forum, they can't access the member list and if they go and view the posts, this is the view they have of everyone's posts (and they can't see your profile).


http://thetownend.com/email_pics/non%20regd%20post%20view.gif


If they register and decide to then view your profile and posts,they get this view of your profile (note hidden email):


http://thetownend.com/email_pics/profile%20view.gif


And this is the view of the posts (no email links for those hidden):


http://thetownend.com/email_pics/non%20regd%20topic%20view.gif


Right so as you can now probably see, your email is hidden from the public and harvesting tools regardless and even if someone is registered, they only see it if you don't click hidden, but still can't harvest addresses! Cheesy
« Last Edit: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 12:39:51 by Barry Scott » Logged
Arriba

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« Reply #1 on: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 12:28:10 »

thanks bazza!
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Fred Elliot
I REST MY FUCKING CASE

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« Reply #2 on: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 12:45:21 »

Where is that *WHOOOSH* smilie when you need it ?
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magicroundabout
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« Reply #3 on: Wednesday, July 9, 2008, 15:13:51 »

my email still isn't hidden. or can i only view it myself when i'm logged in cos the envelope is still there
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Arriba

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« Reply #4 on: Wednesday, July 9, 2008, 15:14:57 »

my email still isn't hidden. or can i only view it myself when i'm logged in cos the envelope is still there

only you can view it
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magicroundabout
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« Reply #5 on: Wednesday, July 9, 2008, 15:16:35 »

cool beans. i'll stop hitting the keyboard everytime i click Hide and it's not hidden  Embarrassed
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