PHP Forum

**Dakoom** · 02-13-2009, 02:15 PM

Hello, I would like to know how can I replace all the external links on my vBulletin forum with PHP. Just help me with the PHP part.. thus I will try to let it work with vBulletin myself.

What I want to do? Simple, I want to replace all my external urls like this:

http://www.example.com/

.. to become ..

http://www.myforum.com/external_link...w.example.com/

Where at external_link.php I put a page that says "Hey, you are leaving our forums.. click here to continue:

http://www.example.com/"

Can you please help me?

**paaaaaaaaaa** · 02-13-2009, 03:58 PM

Personally if I was a user of the forum I would find this a annoying. Can I ask why not stick with the traditional method of simply opening a new window?

The only way to achieve what you want though is to dive into your vbulletin code. In the wysiwyg folder there should be a file that deals with creating hyperlinks. In here you should be able to find where it deals with creating the <a> tag when people enter a link. You would have to change it to add your domain at the front.

**inglescurso** · 02-13-2009, 11:42 PM

Hello!

I have the some problem.
I' found some scripts, and i will to test this weekend, if it work good i will post here for you.

Samuel

**Decaf** · 02-14-2009, 02:29 AM

Doing that is a VERY bad idea, not to mention that it annoys the user more then its worth.

**Dakoom** · 02-14-2009, 08:58 AM

For example, I would like to try doing something like the one on GaiaOnline:

http://www.gaiaonline.com/gaia/redir...l.com%2Fynldu5

By the way, the main reason I want to do this is just for learn how to do it.

**Decaf** · 02-14-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dakoom

For example, I would like to try doing something like the one on GaiaOnline:

http://www.gaiaonline.com/gaia/redir...l.com%2Fynldu5

By the way, the main reason I want to do this is just for learn how to do it.

PHP Code:


			
<?php
header("Location {$_GET['r']}");
?>
<html>
....
</html>

Its a BAD IDEA, DON'T LEAVE YOUR SITE OPEN TO ATTACKS.

**rogem002** · 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decaf

Doing that is a VERY bad idea, not to mention that it annoys the user more then its worth.

I second that, It should only be used when your site's users are total idiots who assume external links are under your control. Which in most cases is 10% of internet users.

Instead, just put some text at the bottom of a link heavy pages saying your not responsible for external websites.

However, if you really want to have a warning page or something. Use a link cloaking out script (like http://www.site.com/out.php?linkid=2234 ) and just keep a list of external links.

**Decaf** · 02-14-2009, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogem002

I second that, It should only be used when your site's users are total idiots who assume external links are under your control. Which in most cases is 10% of internet users.

Instead, just put some text at the bottom of a link heavy pages saying your not responsible for external websites.

However, if you really want to have a warning page or something. Use a link cloaking out script (like http://www.site.com/out.php?linkid=2234 ) and just keep a list of external links.

Thank you!

**Dakoom** · 02-15-2009, 02:04 PM

There is no other way to do that? Just link cloaking and header location redirect? There is no *secure* way I can do that using a script at external_link.php, for example?

**Decaf** · 02-15-2009, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dakoom

There is no other way to do that? Just link cloaking and header location redirect? There is no *secure* way I can do that using a script at external_link.php, for example?

The only way to "secure" an open ended redirect script (ex. www.mysite.com/?url=http://google.com ) is to have your redirect script check and only redirect on approved url's, but if your site is for a forum, there is no good way to do this.

Your best bet is to forget about external redirect scripts, they are more annoying to everyone.

**Dakoom** · 02-15-2009, 06:19 PM

I repeat, I just try to learn. What do you mean with "approved urls"?

**Decaf** · 02-15-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dakoom

I repeat, I just try to learn. What do you mean with "approved urls"?

"approved url's" would be url's that are known to be good sites (Ex. Google.com, Yahoo.com, Mashable.com) and disallowing redirection to all other sites.

**Dakoom** · 02-17-2009, 03:45 AM

Then using that method I will need to put one by one each URL I suppose is secure?