Spamless Email Link

[TCH-Thomas]

Here in sweden we have a government-site who recommends us to add this in to fields when registering for newsletters etc on websites.

name[at]domain[dot]se

Now to my question, would this way of writing my email work if i used in a

emaillink too?

Edited April 19, 2004 by Jikrantz

[Madmanmcp]

Thomas, that way of writing your email is normally used to thwart programs from collecting and distributing your email address. Its used in places like NewsGroups and places where text is displayed in public areas.

 

There are programs that are run that can quickly read these areas and they collect email addresses based on the "format" of a normal email, name@domain.xx, and then they sell them to spammers.

 

Using the "at" instead of "@" and "dot" instead of "." is used to avoid detection.

 

Now actually the answer is yes, using that in a "link" "may" stop a program from collecting that address...but why put it in if its not going to perform its function? The idea of an email link is to email and without the proper format its not going to send to who you want.

[TCH-Thomas]

that way of writing your email is normally used to thwart programs from collecting and distributing your email address

That i know/figured, so that is why i asked if i could make a link on my site (for instance) using that way and let people email me as easy as they do today but at same time giving these programs a little tougher job.

but why put it in if its not going to perform its function

This means above idea will not work?

[Madmanmcp]

If you want the email to work you need to use the correct format, name@domain.xxx

 

If you want the address to be hidden from detection use the "at" and "dot".

 

The "at" and "dot" will NOT be delivered to an email address and will not work.

 

You could leave instructions around the link explaining how to change the address to one that will work. But if I go somewhere and click on an email link I expect the information to be correct and working. Having to go and edit the address will be a hassle and I'd probably say the heck with it and not bother with it.

[TCH-Thomas]

How come that whats posted in this thread works then?

Note: I havent tried it myself, i´m just assuming since its posted here.

Edited April 19, 2004 by Jikrantz

[TCH-Bruce]

Thomas, that is javascript. To a robot/spider it would not appear to be a link. In a user's web browser the javascript will execute and the user will see the end result (a properly formatted email address that can be clicked).

 

Only problem with this method is the user has to have javascript enabled in their browser for it to function.

Edited April 19, 2004 by TCH-Bruce

[TCH-Bruce]

Have you looked at the Masking your E-Mail address page?

 

I use the E-Mail Obfuscator method myself although I am considering to go with strickly form input. Using form input it doesn't matter if the user has an email client configured or not since the server will process everything.

[TCH-Thomas]

Ok, now i got it. I didnt know there was that much difference in it. I thought executeable (or how you spell it) is just that no matter what.

 

Thanks Madman and Bruce.