As John from Make Nothing Online first reported, websites displaying the sitehoppin widget code are affected. All visitors will be automatically redirected to a parked ad site. For an example of the redirecting widget, visit blogtomic.com. Sitehoppin was created by Max of Zedomax.com. I’ve never been a fan of Sitehoppin, having originally called them out in this post.
So what happened to all those people who fell for the Sitehoppin beer stock scam? These are the the same people who had any reason to display the widget in the first place. Is that their reward for supporting some lame traffic scheme? If the sitehoppin domain was sold, why doesn’t Max return their money?
Below are the last 2 posts I found for sitehoppin posted on November 11th, 2008 and November 19th, 2008″
New landing page for Homepage. I will have to change the toolbar a little so, watch out for that too. We will become the new “hoppin” search engine where people can type in any word and it will “hop” (hopefully) to an interesting site. We will have to forego iframes but they should still be accessible if you want to find them. Former widgets and advertising programs will change to “Advertising” where you can buy a keyword and let it “hopp” to your site if a user types your keyword. Well, later on we will also add actual search results somehow.”
Hi All, I’ve like to announce that my financial situation (as you well know I have been broke during most of development of this site and had 40K of debt with maxed out credit cards and no income coming in). To keep myself from going bankrupt, I’ve had to do a LOT of thinking and SiteHoppin simply wasn’t a great business model. Anyways, I even owe some money to affiliates who have earned their money. The good news is that I have been working my ass off and finally started making money on blogs and random jobs such as making E-commerce sites, blogs, and other cool Web2.0+ stuff for friends and family who needed my help.
So is this just an example of bad coding that an absentee owner is either unaware or ignoring? It sounds like Max is trying to make good on his obligations. I welcome anyone with more information to post here or on John’s site.
I had wondered whatever happened to Max. I feel bad for anyone whose site is being hijacked like that, but really. Reputable publishers should have long ago ditched SiteHoppin. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I saw an SH logo on any site I visit.
Odd I havn’t kept up with this. Will talk to Max an see what’s up.
I had the SiteHoppin widget up until yesterday. I guess I’m not a reputable publisher!
Turnip, I tried his site a long while ago. He was such an asshole. I thought it was pretty lame. I tried it two or three times and gave up. Too bad he is such an asshat
After looking at it a bit, I don’t think it’s a case of malicious code per se. The issue seems to be that the domain is now running what amounts to a default landing page for a regular name holding place. These are commonly created with “frame breakout” code, and indeed you can see some in the source for the landing page.
This frame breakout code is designed to remove third-party frame toolbars etc, but in this particular instance it has a much more dramatic result. The widget is, in essence, a small frame, and when the breakout code encounters it it does its job, and breaks out of the frame entirely, replacing the site the widget was on with the landing page.
Not all widget systems would do this, EC’s for instance supplies javascript to generate the frame, rather than the frame itself, so it’d just fail under this circumstance rather than creating a breakout condition (the widget would just silently disappear). But it makes sense that they’d use this form since it’s the simplest way of doing things.
In summary, I don’t think it’s malicious, but it is distinctly unfortunate for those running the widget :/
I’ve already removed the widget and see what will happen next. Thanks!
A few examples I found with Google:
http://www.125exchange.com
http://www.shaunjudy.com
thebobofiles.blogspot.com
zedomax.net
http://www.jackiesbizblog.com
All of the above redirect to sitehoppin.com as soon as the Sitehoppin widget loads. The Sitehoppin page now contains a domain holding page and the only links are to ads.
Please can someone confirm the above.
I’m not accusing Max or anyone else of any wrongdoing. I’m simply stating any visitors to sites with the Sitehoppin widget are now redirected and the site with the widget loses their traffic.
I’m sure this is just a huge cock up.
No widgets are now redirecting, and the main sitehoppin site is again working with the following note: “Alert! – SiteHoppin DOWN for 2-3 hours today, now backup!”
Seeing as how it was down at 1 am, more like 5 hours at least from when I noticed. How much bad publicity and removed widgets has this screwup generated? They may be the first social network to give you traffic, then take it away.
After reading this post of yours, I realised one of the blog which I was trying to drop this morning was affected by this. Would removing the widget do away with the problem? I am never a fan to these kind of redirection and pop up ads.
I just dropped by to update you, but it seems you already know. It’s getting on for 12 hours.
Hmmm… same problem again. I think I’ll wait a day or two before putting my widget back.
If you ask me the guy sounds stupid. I mean, professional business owners don’t use profanity in their announcements.
In addition, it sounds to me like he really doesn’t know what he’s doing: “Well, later on we will also add actual search results somehow.”
No date, no plan, just “somehow.”
I never got involved with Sitehoppin and I’m glad too.
Nathan
I hate to see someone whose work has helped so many people. Listen learned, make sure you know your business model works before you move forward.
Sitehoppin is up and here’s Max’s response:
http://sitehoppin.com/blog/2008/12/01/sitehoppin-waking-up-from-hibernation/
I see he mentioned my post, but I can’t sit through a another video of his. (Must be my American upbringing and culture, having lived in America as a child) He needs to add a temporary page to prevent the redirect while he’s programming his site. Just like when sezwho went down and everyone yanked the code. Bad publicity is not good publicity, despite claims to the contrary.
Perhaps I am the only one this is happening to but I have found that whilst clicking on the drop then through the advert I have landed on quite a few of these static pages. I haven’t noticed the ‘Site Hoppin’ logo for quite a while. Is the problem being caused by people who have had the code on their site and have not deleted it properly?
Perhaps I’ve been unlucky but it has got on my nerves over the last two days! These are sites that I visit regularly and drop my card on so it in effect means their adverts are wasted.
I have been wanting to know what happen to my blog which keep going to sitehoppin when loading. Its still happening. What should I do?
I just remove the sitehopping code from my right bar.
Hmm…
I did announce it as “dead” few months back!
I do have :
Beer Credits: 159733
Beer Credits earned through the Beer Widget: 10050
What are they useful for ?
NOTHING!!!
I feel sorry for 2010 people whom I did refer to thru’ the widget.
Pull yer heads out folks! Anyone who has followed Max knows he isn’t exactly a corporate guy and he has his own charm, albeit unconventional. With all the crap going on in the economy, this is such a ridiculous issue to spend much time on. Bummer! Beer credits and Beer Stocks aren’t worth much! So pull the widget from your sites and find something else to bitch about.
Hmm, the Entrecarder, eh? Tell me how your battles with AntAgonizer in Canterbury Commons are going.