brightonpete
Departed
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On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110 
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Post by brightonpete on Aug 6, 2020 14:16:08 GMT
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Admin
Administrator 
Posts: 2,644
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Post by Admin on Aug 6, 2020 16:12:33 GMT
brightonpete , Please send me links to the posts containing these redirects. While I don't know for sure, my assumption is that they have been added by the ibb.com image host.
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khj
Member 
Posts: 1,461
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Post by khj on Aug 6, 2020 17:28:06 GMT
While viglink is a legitimate company, if you are getting it inserted into your pasted links, it is more likely you have something installed on your device that is inserting the redirect. There are some nefarious people who install malware to get their ads shown via viglink. It may have been installed behind your back when you clicked on something. Check out www.2-spyware.com/remove-viglink.html. Hopefully you will be able to remove it easily. I would suggest using the free version of Malwarebytes first (JMO). |
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brightonpete
Departed
Rest in Peace
On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110
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Post by brightonpete on Aug 6, 2020 17:33:00 GMT
It is the link in messages on this board. I'll send you the links, Admin |
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Philatarium
Member
Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,032
What I collect: Primarily focused on Japan, but lots of other material catches my eye as well ...
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Post by Philatarium on Aug 6, 2020 17:51:03 GMT
I've noticed this for months, and assumed that either Admin or Proboards wanted it in. It's on every link, so I don't think it's being inserted by an individual poster with malware on his/her system. Also, it appears on all 3 of my devices, a Windows laptop, and on both a Samsung Android phone and a Samsung Android tablet. The links always work correctly, but clearly that prefix is relaying information somewhere (for ad revenue?). Fwiw, in the example brightonpete provided in his original post, the exact same Vigilink code and key appear on mine, so it's associated with the original post, rather than something resident on the reader's system. |
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,348
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Aug 6, 2020 17:55:34 GMT
Viglink.com
Publisher Revenue Delivered
Create a better web by making every link intelligent and valuable. At Sovrn //Commerce, formerly VigLink, we deliver revenue to publishers through content-driven-commerce with leverage, insight, and automation.
from proboards support
What is VigLink and why does ProBoards use it?
VigLink is a company that helps ProBoards earn money from links to online merchants. When you click link to a website outside of your forum, VigLink checks to see if that website is a part of their affiliate program. If it is, VigLink will make sure that ProBoards gets credit for visitors that have clicked on the link. This means that if a purchase is made through the linked website, ProBoards may earn some revenue from that purchase. We believe this is a good experience for both ProBoards members and ProBoards itself because the process is seamless and does not involve adding any extra banner ads to the forum.
Why am I seeing every link on my forum as a VigLink link?
If you are using an ad-blocker or script-blocker, we detect that and automatically fix the links on the page to ensure we get credit for them going through VigLink. ProBoards makes money from advertising, so we appreciate if you can disable your ad-blocker or script-blocker while on our site.
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khj
Member
Posts: 1,461
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Post by khj on Aug 6, 2020 18:07:25 GMT
OK, I understand. I'm not using adblocker on TSF, and the links appear normal for me. I assume this is the example post in question: This stamp mural at the Eastland Texas post office is rather famous: At least on my laptop, there is no viglink prefix on the link. But what is strange is I do use adblocker on 2 other ProBoards forums, and no viglink prefix appears on those. |
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Admin
Administrator
Posts: 2,644
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Post by Admin on Aug 6, 2020 18:14:24 GMT
Thanks, angore , your post has saved me from spending time researching the issue. |
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khj
Member
Posts: 1,461
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Post by khj on Aug 6, 2020 18:15:24 GMT
On another ProBoards forum, we had one person complain about this in the shoutbox. That person was not using adblocker either. We looked into it, and nobody else mentioned they were experiencing the same problem. The member was advised to either start using adblocker or use the spyware removal link I provided. I do not know which option they chose. But according to the ProBoards info you provided, using the adblocker should have triggered viglink insertion rather than remove it. So I assume they used the malware removal tool.
Again, I'm not sure why I don't see the prefix on any of the ProBoards sites I'm visiting, regardless of whether I have adblock enabled or disable. Interesting...
I am using Chrome as my browser on a Win10 machine.
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,348
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Aug 6, 2020 18:46:33 GMT
I had used am ad blocker for a week or so and Proboards keep putting up messages complaining,
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khj
Member
Posts: 1,461
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Post by khj on Aug 6, 2020 19:16:24 GMT
It is against ProBoard TOS to use an adblocker. I have it on occasionally elsewhere when I am doing major changes in a ProBoards forum, because the ads can be really disrupting when doing admin/mod stuff. I figure they would understand. But I don't have it on at TSF -- so I assume that is the reason I am not seeing the viglink prefixes.
I'm wondering if in years past I disabled some script setting on Chrome, and that is why the viglink prefix isn't appearing for me anywhere...
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brightonpete
Departed
Rest in Peace
On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110
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Post by brightonpete on Aug 6, 2020 20:00:20 GMT
No ad blockers, but on a Mac. Safari Technology Preview and Firefox both complain about these links. I make a link and there's no "viglink" in front of the url.  |
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,711
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Aug 6, 2020 20:01:19 GMT
.and Proboards does not like my VPN so it simply rejects me when I am using it so I would have to restart the Login at 0 with VPN on but do not know how to completely log out, with trial after cookies removed (that does not work when I put VPN on)
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brightonpete
Departed
Rest in Peace
On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110
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Post by brightonpete on Aug 6, 2020 20:03:39 GMT
Oh, I use VPN most of the time. Let me check! Thanks for tweaking my brain, renden! |
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brightonpete
Departed
Rest in Peace
On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110
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Post by brightonpete on Aug 6, 2020 20:07:02 GMT
That was it! I use VPN all the time. This one is absolutely the best. I guess I'll have to live with munged url's in here!
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,711
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Aug 6, 2020 21:15:57 GMT
That was it! I use VPN all the time. This one is absolutely the best. I guess I'll have to live with munged url's in here! Tell me how to log out completely out of TSF and re-start with VPN "on"....it will work - I have my username and original password Thanks René |
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brightonpete
Departed
Rest in Peace
On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110
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Post by brightonpete on Aug 6, 2020 23:57:17 GMT
And so it does! Trouble is with me, I am always switching hosts. That must mess it up.
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