Comments on: Warning – New Affiliate Cookie Stuffing Forum Trick – Stealing Sales

By: Caleb

Caleb — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:31:07 +0000

I’m guessing the “easy way” for finding pout is to right click to ”
view source” ?

By: SEO & Security for Bloggers

SEO & Security for Bloggers — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:00:24 +0000

[...] scripts. These scripts can execute an array of malicious actions, from installing spyware to cookie stuffing — which can outright steal referrals from you by overwriting your affiliate cookies with [...]

By: Arnold

Arnold — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:09:45 +0000

Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Linda!

By: Afif

Afif — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:02:26 +0000

Recently found out about this news. Especially worried on how to mod my forum now. So thos the forum owner gets to pay the price or the members?

By: DigitalPoint being sued by eBay for cookie stuffing!

DigitalPoint being sued by eBay for cookie stuffing! — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:12:02 +0000

[...] a user generated click) will result in an immediate ban – no warning, no questions asked!” Warning – New Affiliate Cookie Stuffing Forum Trick – Stealing Sales – 5 Star Affiliate Marketing Bl… ——————– Brandon Sheley / vBulletin Setup Staff Check out our Newsletter for the [...]

By: Linda Buquet

Linda Buquet — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:23:23 +0000

Sorry James I get several emails about this a week, so people are figuring it out but I should have added it to the post.

It’s linda AT 5staraffiliateprograms DOT com

By: James Trotta

James Trotta — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:10:42 +0000

I may be missing the obvious here, but what’s the email addy for people who need more info on protecting their forums from this cookie stuffing thing?

By: eBay Sues High Profile Affiliate for Cookie Stuffing and Fraud - 5 Star Affiliate Marketing Blogs

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:16:19 +0000

[...] It sounds to me like what they were accused of doing, at least in part, is this black hat cookie stuffing method I blogged about recently. Warning – New Affiliate Cookie Stuffing Forum Trick – Stealing Sales [...]

By: videoscript

videoscript — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:07:09 +0000

Cookie stuffing is rife, that blackhatter is correct, everyone is doing it, and there is no way to stop it!

By: BlackHatter

BlackHatter — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:38:32 +0000

Boehoehoe, crybaby

I am a blackhatter and i stuff cookies, is it ethical guess not but i dont care about that, what i do care about is my bottom line and it seems everyone is doing it so i do it to, and you know what i am making a ton of money with it, and that is in the end all that matters to me, food on the table.

And most merchants dont give a rats ass, most of my sponsors (adult and mainstream) know what i am doing, know where i get my traffic from (SE Spamming and fucking up your rankings) but like me all they care is the bottom line sure there are a view exceptions on the rule but take it from me some well known networks don’t give a shit.

And there are ways to be and stay completely under the radar, so sorry but i will keep going with stuffing my cookies in your jar

Now cry me river

By: Linda Buquet

Linda Buquet — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:34:59 +0000

Hi Chris,

I’m wondering if we are talking about the same technique. We should compare notes by email. I’ll shoot you a copy of the last one
I sent someone, then let me know if you are talking about a different trick.

By: CT Moore

CT Moore — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:29:39 +0000

@Linda,
I asked because I know of a way to do it with HTML, but didn’t want to mention it since we’re trying to prevent further hijacking.

By: Linda Buquet

Linda Buquet — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:10:28 +0000

Hi there Chris,

Nope it can be done with BB code as easily as HTML. There is a particular feature in both HTML and BB code that could be disabled to prevent it, but it’s a feature most forums would not want to turn off. The detailed info I’m emailing to people that request it, explains it all.

FYI for those who have expressed concern. I would not send the info if a stranger with a yahoo email requests it. So far the requests have all been from legit forum owners who email me using their forum email address.

The marketing coordinator for Clickbank who runs their CB forum requested the info. I’m sure that forum is a PRIME target. So I’m happy he’s a regular 5 Star reader and saw this post.

By: CT Moore

CT Moore — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:50:59 +0000

Do the forums have to allow HTML for BHers to pull this off?

By: Linda Buquet

Linda Buquet — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:27:14 +0000

Hi Vlad,

No cookie stuffing is not new at all.

I’m saying this is a new method of doing it. It’s totally different than what you describe. One of the unique things about it, is that they aren’t sending anyone to a page on their site to drop the cookies (like some coupon sites do). They aren’t using a link, they aren’t using anything you can see.

“but I don’t thik that someone can do something about it. Maby the affiliate networks would be able, but they have no interests.”

Yes there is a way to do something about it. That’s why I’m letting forum owners know what to do.

Some networks do kick you out for cookie stuffing and BH that do it in volume often get caught.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:06:48 +0000

Hello Linda,

This is not a new method. I read about it some years ago on a BH forum, but it was done a little bit different. The black hatters bought millions of popup/popunder views on second tier ad networks which they redirected to pages stuffed with Ebay and Amazon cookies. I saw people bragging that they were making tens of thousnads of $ this way.

I totaly agree with you that this is stealing, but I don’t thik that someone can do something about it. Maby the affiliate networks would be able, but they have no interests.