Skip site navigation (1)Skip section navigation (2)
Date:      Sat, 25 Feb 2012 06:28:21 -0500 (EST)
From:      Daniel Feenberg <feenberg@nber.org>
To:        freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: Security? [Re: Why is this Symbol in the front of your website. A humble request.]
Message-ID:  <Pine.GSO.4.64.1202250625020.24158@nber6>
In-Reply-To: <4F486340.7040907@herveybayaustralia.com.au>
References:  <CAJxq87TK=375mmQdhZAC7jqwyi1j9sE3t5NtTxMfcfTxCNo_Bg@mail.gmail.com> <4F47620D.24859.53F9A2B@dave.g8kbv.demon.co.uk> <868vjs8nto.fsf@ds4.des.no> <4F478D8B.31307.5E97C34@dave.g8kbv.demon.co.uk> <CAHhngE2ccsdSOTV85bKTD7AEwRciaWcuFsg9m3Wp70icHJrvkA@mail.gmail.com> <4F486340.7040907@herveybayaustralia.com.au>

next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help


On Sat, 25 Feb 2012, Da Rock wrote:

> On 02/25/12 12:03, David Brodbeck wrote:
>> On Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 5:15 AM, Dave<dave@g8kbv.demon.co.uk>  wrote:
>>> Those address links need changing to graphic's, so that most address
>>> harvesting bots won't get anything usable.
>>> 
>>> Mk1 eyeball can still see what's what, but if you have to use the info,
>>> you have to re-type it manually.
>> I really don't recommend that.  Keep in mind not everyone can use the
>> "Mk1 eyeball."  Websites need to be accessible to blind people using
>> screen reader software, too.
> And therein lies the problem. How do you maintain accessibility while 
> preventing bots from harvesting? You can't have your cake and eat it too... 
> :)
>
> Only solution lies in a security gate of good filters and blocklists. But 
> occasionally one or two will still pass.

An email address can be hidden from bots without violating section 508, 
for instance:

   feenberg is at nber dot org

or some variant won't be picked up by a robot. But is it really practical 
to treat an email address as a secret, when it will be shared with 
hundreds of correspondents? I have mostly thought that was hopeless. We do 
it on our website because we don't want to bother arguing with people.

daniel feenberg
feenberg@nber.org



Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?Pine.GSO.4.64.1202250625020.24158>