Bot links are links between your galleries that look exactly like galleries, except that no surfer can see them. Only a bot will. ATL supports custom botlink tags, so it's impossible for a hitbot to detect it. You can auto block a IP that clicked a botlink (this page), or you disable a trade when the amount of botlink clicks is greater than X% compared to the total clicks (guardian).
Botlink settings
botlink prefix: links can be given a linkname via &l=name. When ATL sees a linkname that is the same as the linkname filled out here, it will be counted as a botlink. It's a good idea to give a normal name, like teen-gallery, so a hitbot doesn't skip it. Of course, give your other galleries a slightly different linkname, and change the botlink-name often. The botlink is in fact a prefix, so when you fill out 'bot', and create links like bot-teen, bot-free, etc, then all those links work as botlinks.
block hits via .htaccess: turn this on to block IPs that clicked the botlink in the last X amount of minutes. X is the amount filled out in the field 'block for how many minutes'. Before using this fill out the path to your htaccess file in the IP daemon.
ignore IPs on safelist: if a IP that clicked the botlink appears on the safelist (menu --> security --> ip daemon --> safelist) it will never be blocked. For example, search engine spiders can follow it without doing further damage to your site.
block for how many minutes': This number defines how many minutes ATL should go back in time to search for botlink clicks, to block those IPs. If you plan to use the auto-block, I suggest that you leave this time to 1 - 5.
botlink click stats: this is a link to the linktag-module that displays referrer info for linknames.
note
- Since blocking hits is almost never a smart idea because there's the risk of blocking valid real-life surfers, I suggest that you manually check the botlink stats. Edit a template that shows how many botlink clicks traffic of a trade has made, and go from there.
- Be creative when you come up with code to hide the botlinks. Use a combination of javascript and css to hide the links. Give the botlink a class that puts it in a layer 100px outside the browser for example. Also, be aware that not every browser supports css and / or javascript.
- The best results are achieved when you make the botlink look as close as possible to your normal gallery links. Place them between your galleries and place several bot-traps on your page
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http://arrowscripts.com/atl3/reference/011.shtml (c)
