 |
HOME |
|
FLASH |
|
VIDEO |
|
AUDIO |
|
CHAT |
|
ADULT |
|
GALLERY |
|
CONTACT |
|
LINKS |
|
JOKES |
|
PIRATES |
|
THUG |
|
FLAMES |
 |
 |
 |
 |
So You Have Decided to Hotlink and Steal Bandwidth
What is hotlinking and bandwidth theft?
Bandwidth theft or "hotlinking" is direct linking to a web site's files (Flash games or movies, images, video, etc.). An example would be using a tag to display a flash game you found on someone else's web page so it will appear on your own site, eBay auction listing, weblog, forum message post, etc.
Bandwidth refers to the amount of data transferred from a web site to a user's computer. When you view a web page, you are using that site's bandwidth to display the files. Since web hosts charge based on the amount of data transferred, bandwidth is an issue. If a site is over its monthly bandwidth, it's billed for the extra data or taken offline.
A simple analogy for bandwidth theft: Imagine a random stranger plugging into your electrical outlets, using your electricity without your consent, and you paying for it.
This is similar to spam, in which people, without permission, use bandwidth that is paid for by others.
In summary: Linking, yay; Hotlinking, boo.
Why should I stop hotlinking?
Hotlinking can have a lot of undesirable consequences. One is the so-called "switcheroo". If you've linked to an image on someone's server, what's to prevent them from changing the image you linked to? This can have humorous results. Since most sites, forums, etc. have strict policies about offensive images, it wouldn't take much for a webmaster you've been stealing bandwidth from to shut you down completely with an unwanted "switcheroo".If we have to bear the extra traffic then the images should be doing MY bidding. Yes, MINE MINE MINE. Other people are using bandwidth I am paying for, and they are getting the benefit? Therefore in an effort to humor myself and stop leeches - the "switcheroo" goes into effect.
We begin Switcheroo with a view toward correcting that.
According to the Akashic Record, or rather, Usenet, "Linking directly to other people's images without their permission is also dangerous, since the image you link to may suddenly disappear or change."
