12 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
12 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

SEO / SCAM ALERT: Avoid This Content Management / eCommerce Platform

by HunterSnake
10 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Hey Everyone,

I was doing some SEO work for a client who happens to be using expensive software from Kryptronic, Inc. when I made a startling discovery. Not only does this overpriced platform that isn't remotely as good as Drupal costs a lot of money, but it embeds hidden links to Kryptronic's site within the site using the platform that appear by default regardless of theme. This puts all sites that use Kryptronic's software in automatic violation of Google's Webmaster Guidelines as hiding links is a punishable offense, self-serving and third-party serving alike.

Hidden text and links - Webmaster Tools Help

Also, you'll notice on Google's Spam Report Form that the first choice in the list is "Hidden text or links"!

https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/spamreport

The code included by default in their CMS is as follows:

Code:
<div class="hidden">

Software:     Copyright 1999-2010 Kryptronic, Inc.

Exec Time:    0.305909 Seconds

Memory Usage: Unavailable

<a href="http://www.kryptronic.com/Content-Management-System/" title="Content Management System">Content Management System</a>

<a href="http://www.kryptronic.com/" title="Kryptronic Software">Kryptronic Software</a>

</div>
The CSS for "hidden" is

Code:
.hidden{display:none;}
The intent seems clear.

The following nearly 4000 sites are victims of this $200 self-serving link-building:

https://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.co.../&fr=sfp&bwm=i

View the source codes of the sites listed. You'll find the hidden one-way links to Kryptronic's pages.

The rule violator in this is Kryptronic who likely knows exactly what they're doing - charging people $200 and getting free, high PR one-way links in the process, which is why they have a PageRank 6 site... and none of their backlinks are natural...

The sites using Kryptronic software are innocent and shouldn't be punished - Kryptronic is the bad guy in this.

Just looking out for people - avoid this CMS.
#alert #avoid #cms #content #ecommerce #management #platform #scam #seo
  • Profile picture of the author armer
    Thank you for sharing this with us.

    I think WP is good enough to any kind of project, so why people pay for scripts like that.
    or they can use a 1k of opensource projects.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2551113].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Jeremy Vanlanda
      hahaha "hidden" is such a clever class name for hiding links...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2551128].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bgmacaw
    Once again a reminder that hidden links have other uses such as hiding spoiler information and the like.

    That said, however, it is pretty sneaky and dishonest for the CMS developer to slip in hidden links like this.
    Signature
    Product Reviews | Earn Online Cash | Free HTML Templates
    Free WordPress Themes: Boring Memo | Dateless Mini-Site | Info Magazine | 100 Twenty-Ten Niche Headers
    Discount Templates, Graphics and Scripts: Templates for Website
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2551297].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author HunterSnake
      Originally Posted by bgmacaw View Post

      Once again a reminder that hidden links have other uses such as hiding spoiler information and the like.

      That said, however, it is pretty sneaky and dishonest for the CMS developer to slip in hidden links like this.


      No doubt, but it doesn't matter in this case. The referenced company has undeniably violated Google's guidelines and there is no defense for their actions. This is the kind of thing that can result in a total delisting.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2551415].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author humbledmarket
    Banned
    Wow so they charge $200 for one copy and then they put you at risk of being reprehended by google. Shouldn't there be some law suit against them? BTW Thanks for pointing them out; I'm sure it'll benefit many. Personally I don't use any paid CMS. Joomla and wordpress are good enough for my marketing needs.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2551533].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author millerb7
      I appreciate the heads up huntersnake. Things like this are just a shame. I have also filed a report and I'd encourage anybody else to do so as well. Sites/companies like this should not go unpunished. The potential hazard they are passing to their clients is disgusting.

      You can find the forms for google:
      https://www.google.com/webmasters/to...amreport?hl=en

      and Bing:
      https://support.discoverbing.com/efo...&wfxredirect=1

      by following the above links. I encourage others to take action.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2551647].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author HunterSnake
        Thank you for posting the links, Miller.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2553810].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author millerb7
          No problem. I'm glad to do my part in preventing such abuses of the search engines.

          I've been in emails back and forth with Bing, and have been forwarded to their abuse technical team.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2555297].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TheRetiredBuilder
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2556162].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author HunterSnake
      Originally Posted by TheRetiredBuilder View Post

      You're the kind of busy body that has nothing better to do with your time so you go around complaining about things that just don't affect your life

      We get these kind of people in the UK to, they watch BBC and if they hear a bad word before 8pm they take the time to go online, find the BBC address, write a letter, buy a stamp and then send their letter off. I kid you not

      Still, it's a nasty thing that kryptronic are doing and would probably have been a good scam for them

      I can understand why people affected would want to complain
      You're the type of individual that goes around making posts like this because you have nothing better to do with your time.

      The people affected by this don't know enough about SEO to know what they're being affected by. Likely, if you showed the site owners the "hidden" code, they'd have no idea why it was bad and probably not even what its purpose even is. If they knew that much, they wouldn't have paid for software that isn't as good as free, popular alternatives. The people affected don't know enough to complain or who to complain to, not even that there is a reason to complain.

      Miller did something constructive with a fraction of his time on behalf of people who are not knowledgeable enough to do so for themselves. He did something useful and selfless. You, on the other hand, have done nothing except make yourself look like a tool.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2556184].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author millerb7
        So he disagrees with what I did, yet agreed that those effected would be upset.

        I guess if those effected knew any better they wouldn't have been in that situation in the first place.

        It's simple. White-hat should trump Black-hat at all times. If you let black-hat go, it'll start effecting us all as a profession.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2557642].message }}

Trending Topics