EDIT: Please read to the page bottom, this is an issue not introduced by the new admins. However, the stuff herein is true.
Mods, there is a huge problem. If you search for words that appear in each
user's personal profiles, they will show up now on Google and other searches. This is really bad, because there are direct links to send emails and send IMs though whatever contact settings the user has specified.
Previously, this was a non-issue, because you had to be a paid member to see these pages, and they were closed. But now any Google search can find these profile pages, and any john doe can send people PMs if their PM ID is listed.
The damage has already been done, and most people's stuff is now searchable. However, mods please close off the personal contact pages from indexing ASAP!!
Actually, the correct fix for this is the following:
Make the profiles 2 parts. The signature and quotes and whatnot only registered members can view. The private part is the email and PM links, which can only be viewed by other PAID members.
** This must be done such that the URL Google has will bounce the user with a 503 permission error for the pages already indexed **
Artifex, I think you are blowing this way out of proportion. As a matter of fact, I do believe those pages were viewable before we bought the website. However, you would not have been able to "send a PM" to someone if you were not logged in (and thus, paid) -- however, your signature and "email" address if you had it in your signature and it was public -- has always been viewable.
I have set it so Google can not browse member profiles (or guests) -- even tho that was NOT the default previously.
Just to back ekool up, here is the cached page from google (using your link) as retrieved on 8 Oct 2007 20:01:21 GMT.
This is G o o g l e's cache of http://www.preludeonline.com/member.php?u=17162 as retrieved on 8 Oct 2007 20:01:21 GMT. G o o g l e's cache is the snapshot that we took of the page as we crawled the web.
The page may have changed since that time. Click here for the current page without highlighting.
This cached page may reference images which are no longer available. Click here for the cached text only.
To link to or bookmark this page, use the following url: http://www.google.com/search?q=cache...n&ct=clnk&cd=1
Google is neither affiliated with the authors of this page nor responsible for its content. These search terms have been highlighted: artifex preludeonline Go to Page...
__________________
Not happy with the new skin? Switch back to the old skin and disable the sidebars here: http://www.preludeonline.com/profile.php?do=editprofile (under Additional Information, set sidebars to Disabled).
Artifex, I think you are blowing this way out of proportion. As a matter of fact, I do believe those pages were viewable before we bought the website. However, you would not have been able to "send a PM" to someone if you were not logged in (and thus, paid) -- however, your signature and "email" address if you had it in your signature and it was public -- has always been viewable.
I have set it so Google can not browse member profiles (or guests) -- even tho that was NOT the default previously.
The hell I am blowing this out of proportion!!
1) Profiles here have never been search indexed on PO.com, ever.
2) Look guys, you don't get this. I altered my profile after after I found out Google indexed it. What you see now is my sanitized profile.
3) The google cache you show has major privacy problems:
- It has my birthdate
- It has my open email address. I take great care to keep this out of search engines. No forum I have ever participated in makes this openly viewable to searches.
- It has my freaking IM IDs on it. Do you really think I should have my goddamn IM IDs for any dick & jane to see on Google???
Do you guys realize that Google indexes of this kind of information leads to identity theft? I would never put this information in my profile if I knew a search engine could get to it.
Come on guys, this is rediculous. Please treat this as a breach of personal information. Myself and every other member relied on personal profiles to be confidential to other paid members, and that's the expectation we have. AT A MINIMUM you need to disable search indexing of profiles.
Well, I don't really want to argue but I'll finish off with this.
1. We didn't change this setting, so it has, in fact, been that way since day 1..
check out these URL's... all using the "old skin" and look at the date on the last index.. well before we took over:
Well, I don't really want to argue but I'll finish off with this.
1. We didn't change this setting, so it has, in fact, been that way since day 1..
check out these URL's... all using the "old skin" and look at the date on the last index.. well before we took over:
I owe you a major apology, I am sorry. I hope you can forgive this. I assumed that this was the result of the switch, but I am wrong. After looking at my cached page I see:
This is G o o g l e's cache of http://www.preludeonline.com/member.php?u=17162 as retrieved on Oct 8, 2007 20:01:21 GMT.
This is clearly my own fault, I will make sure it gets fixed on my own.
Just a note to everyone, we have changed this so GOOGLE WILL NOT index the member profiles Anymore. It will take a little while for the cache to be cleared though..
__________________
Not happy with the new skin? Switch back to the old skin and disable the sidebars here: http://www.preludeonline.com/profile.php?do=editprofile (under Additional Information, set sidebars to Disabled).
AutoForums.com is the premier network of enthusiast-owned
enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
We operate more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share
experiences and opinions as a community.
Go to Page...
Linear Mode
