Sunday, September 2, 2012

Dab of This and That

On 8/25/12, Susan @ "Between Naps on the Porch" posted about her personal experience about "someone" stealing her blog content. You can click here to read her post. Yes - I asked her permission to link back to her post. :)
Her post reminded me that I had not checked my stats in some time, and when I did - "Ouch". Turns out I have had some strange activity in the last month or so, and when I googled the sites (I did NOT click on/open the sites), my security system sent up the red flags. Within the few lines under some of the site names when googled, it was easy to see what kind of sites they were - I will definitely be keeping "comments monitored" active.

My question - Why would this type of site even be remotely interested in my ramblings ?!?! It is not a situation of only a couple of times in the last month, but the visits range from 18 to 46 (more than one involved) in the last month. OK - Have to admit this really bothered me, so I went on a mission to find out what I could. When went on a search, found out that apparently this is a common occurrence and according to the google/blogger forum these sites don't have links to your site, etc., etc., etc.
Anyway, as a result I still went back and did some deleting - just being careful. They were all water marked, but still.......
Judging from some comments left on Susan's post and blogger forum, others have had this to happen also.

Have you checked your stats lately ?!? Whatever you do, do not click on any questionable sites showing up in "traffic sources" - that is exactly what the unsavory ones want you to do !!!!

Up date: Ok - I started this post on 8/28/12, and never finished as wanted to get a little more information together about the situation. In doing so, I randomly clicked on some of my photos and checked "image source", and only had to check a few before one showed up at a location where it should not be - a blog on a company site!?! My photo was "borrowed", posted on their blog, with no credit given to the source/ link back to my blog.
Emailed the company, received an automated reply stating they would respond shortly. Checked their site this morning, photo has been removed from their blog, and as I type have had no further response from them.

If the blogger for the company had "asked", given credit/linked back, I would have more than likely said "sure - knock yourself out" - after I checked with the person who originally took the photo and sent to me, along with permission to use on my blog..... See the web that is growing here!?!

Granted - What happened to me was just a microscopic speck in the bucket compared to what happened to Susan and some others out there - but still........

Have had a very nice weekend, visiting with some family and friends that have not seen in some time, and celebrating a big milestone in one someone's life. Was going to walk off some of the calories I consumed at an event I attended yesterday that served some "yummylicious" food, but the mosquito population is out of control.

Have a great week.

ETA: Photo in question - Yes it was watermarked, not that it did any good.

12 comments:

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

Wow Glenda. I've been hearing more and more about this problem and happy to hear that you were able to get to the bottom of at least one infraction. I do check my stats and haven't seen anything strange lately, but I never click on them. Thanks for another "heads up."
Glad to hear you had a great time with family and friends. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Our Hopeful Home said...

Hey Glenda, I hear you loud and clear. Just recent;y I was checking my stats and a strange site came up. Turns out they had stolen one of my posts, word for word along with all the photos. I immediately alerted Blogger and they had the post removed from that site within 24 hours. I was glad for their quick work. Just wonder how many other places out there are reposting my stuff? Don't worry about the walk. I didn't go on one either!

xinex said...

Thanks for this post, Glenda. I never check my stats, maybe I should. Happy Labor Day!...Christine

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

I'll have to go read her post. When I had my other blog I had quite a few tutorials stolen by another blogger - practically word for word. It's a problem that's been going on for a long time.

Unknown said...

Wow, I wonder if that has happened at the Back Porch!

Thanks for the post, Glenda. I need to check this out.

Lynn Stevens said...

What the heck is going on? do people have nothing better to do than steal other peoples work, emails. etc.
Guess I had better check my stats site too.
Grrrrrrr. Thanks for the heads up.
hugs Lynn

Cheryl said...

Good information, thanks for sharing. I have tried to click on photos off of blogs to save to my computer for reference... and they wouldn't let me--- this thing called "space balls" popped up. I know you can do this for blog photos. I think I'll look into this. Interesting.... big hugs,
Cheryl

Cheryl said...

me again... how did you do that "Image source?" I don't see that when I click on any of my photos. I'm thinking... your needing to do a tutorial for all of us dummies lol
big hugs,
Cheryl

Robyn said...

So sorry to hear this happened to you, Glenda, and like your other faithful readers, I should probably check my stats too! Thanks for the warning. Your jewelry looks great, though, so keep up the good work! :) Robyn

The Old Parsonage said...

Oh my - you're the 3rd person that Ive read about this happening to this week.

Happy Wednesday!
Leann

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

How sad this all is! I was hoping that the watermark would make a difference, but evidently it doesn't. Thanks for the heads-up anyway and the link to BNOTP's post. She has some great suggestions.

Teresa@1800 Farmhouse Rd said...

Ok sweet lady, I am going to check since you say to. I never ever look at things like this. I will get back with ya, probably with a question or two.