he internet is a powerful
tool and internet users Most websites have a limited
should use it amount of data transfer (or
responsibility. Internet bandwidth) allowed. If they go
etiquette refers to the standards over this limit, it costs them
for proper behavior on the extra. Stealing bandwidth
Internet. Hotlinking to images is therefore unnecessarily increases
a violation of Internet the cost of hosting. Also, with
etiquette. many hosts limiting the amount of
bandwidth a site can use monthly,
The majority of image hotlinking their site could be shut down for
comes from blogs, discussion exceeding bandwidth quota.
forums, and websites like MySpace
and Stumbleupon. As a long time Though it is the webmaster's
Internet user, I can tell you responsibility to prevent the
that image hotlinking has always unauthorized remote loading of
been a major concern. While it’s images from their site by
questionable on whether or not uploading an .htaccess file to
hotlinking is copyright their server, anyone hotlinking
infringement, it is a theft is doing something that truly is
issue. unethical. As a webmaster,
hotlinking is certainly not
Hotlinking, also known as something that I appreciate.
bandwidth theft is direct linking
to a web site's files. When you If you wish to republish an
link to an image on someone image, the proper thing to do is
else’s server instead of saving to save the image to your
the image to your computer and computer and upload it to your
uploading it to your blog you are blog or a free image host. Make
stealing that websites bandwidth. sure that you obtain permission
from the original author before
you upload it and before If you are using Wordpress, there
publication to your blog takes is a hotlink protection plugin
place. that you can install which fights
bandwidth theft.
The solution for webmasters
dealing with hotlinking is to use A word to the wise, please don't
an .htaccess file. It’s very hotlink. Hotlinking is definitely
simple to implement and it works not proper Internet etiquette.
beautifully!
About the Author:
Rose DesRochers is the founder of Today's Woman Writing Community http://www.todays-woman.net, a supportive online writing community for men and women over 18. Rose is also the founder of Blogger Talk Blog Community http://www.bloggertalk.net, a friendly fast growing blogging portal, offering bloggers support, advice, tools, tips and information about blogs and blogging. Rose DesRochers personal blog can be read at http://rosedesrochers.todays-woman.net
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Rose DesRochers
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