Why are URLs now being redirected to ads?

Can someone please explain what is going on with URLs posted in my forum?

Why is it that a link such as this:
hhtp:/wew.sendspace.com/file/x037rq

is now showing in my forum post as:
Sendspace.com x037rq

And redirects to an ad here:
http://www.ozsaintsforum.com/go/sdsp/file/x037rq

Before being able to actually go to the actual link?
Can someone please explain??

thank you.

Prizm wrote:Can someone please explain what is going on with URLs posted in my forum?

Why is it that a link such as this:
hhtp:/wew.sendspace.com/file/x037rq

is now showing in my forum post as:
Sendspace.com x037rq

And redirects to an ad here:
http://www.ozsaintsforum.com/go/sdsp/file/x037rq

Before being able to actually go to the actual link?
Can someone please explain??

thank you.

That second URL(shortened one) is just a simplified version on the long URL.
The URL your gave me looks like a failed template or HMLT page editing attempt. I would check your templates or your coding.

Try resynchronizing:
https://help.forumotion.com/tricks-tips-f32/resynchronizing-your-forum-t50777.htm

The URL I gave (hhtp:/wew.sendspace.com/file/x037rq) is purposely incorrect. I had to spell it wrong in order to have it show up in my post. Otherwise this help forum would automatically convert it to show as "Sendspace.com x037rq".

I realize that "Sendspace.com x037rq" is a shortened version of the URL, but I don't want that. It makes my links messy.

Not to mention that the main problem is that it redirects the URL to an ad page first.

I don't get what synchronizing my forum has to do with it....this is some new 'feature' that forumotion has implemented. They're trying to scam more ad hits from users' forums. Go to your own forums and try it yourselves. Post an url to an MP3 or to a file at a filehosting site and see what happens.

EDIT: This seems to happen mainly to filesharing URLs, like sendspace.com, megaupload, mediafire, etc. I've got some links that go directly to my ISP filehosting and they are unaffected.

The links are purposely coming out faulty, forumotion wants to avoid using these links as these may contain illegal content, viruses etc.

Ok, but we dont want that...

Why dont u just make an auto scanner on these links?!

Cuz u say that all uploading websites have viruses!!

Then where can we upload files ?!

I am not here to justify Forumotion's policies. I can just pass on the information.

Then let Typlo fix that..

Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee

There is nothing to fix, maybe you can suggest it.

Sanket wrote:The links are purposely coming out faulty, forumotion wants to avoid using these links as these may contain illegal content, viruses etc.

The links aren't faulty at all. They work fine. Two things are happening:

1. The text for the URL link is automatically changed to read "MEGAUPLOAD.COM Q97FSD6" (for example) instead of anything else you want the link text to say. So if I make an URL for the word "HERE" as in "Click HERE to download", the forum will change it to say "Click MEGAUPLOAD.COM Q97FSD6 to download". Forumotion will replace HERE with it's own text. This has nothing to do with piracy. See image:


I had proper text links for all those Sendspace files on my forum. Now all the text has been replaced with "Sendspace.com 26hms0" so now my users don't even know what file the link is referring to! But notice in the status bar that the actual link directs back to my own forum? (ozsaintsforum.com/go/sdsp/file/26hms0) That's where point number two comes in:

2. When you click the link, it redirects to a forumotion server where an ad is displayed, and then finally you are given an actual link to the file:


See below the ad? The actual link is displayed, where you can finally download the file.

I'll make a YouTube video if I have to. It's not a glitch, and it's not banning my links. It's just messing the link text up and also forcing my members to see ads before they can finally get the link.

Thank you, it looks like the links are now back to normal!

Since this thread appears to be solved, I will lock this thread and mark it as solved.


Sanket