That pesky encrypted footer! Aaargh!!!

by A_Kommon_Man

Posted: 15 years ago 19 replies

WEB DESIGN

If you are like myself and would like to personalize your footer by placing your name at the bottom as the designer

, and also placing your copyright information, you may fall victim to a new trend that template designers are doing, encrypting the footer.

Although this is pretty pesky, it's pretty simple to get around if you follow these simple steps.

First of all you need to navigate to the theme editor on your control panel. It is located under the Design menu.

Now you need to find the footer include code. It should be at the end of the index.php file.

Now we need to add two simple line of code. One on the top and another on the bottom of the footer include code. These codes mean nothing, by the way.....

<! -- my footer starts here -->

&

<! -- my footer ends here -->

Actually you can write anything between <!- and->
Your code should look something like this.
 <?php get_footer(); ?> 
Update the index.php file by saving what you just did.

Now, open up your site in your browser. Right click on the browser and then scroll down to View Source.

Hit Ctrl +F and type in "my footer starts here"

Copy all of the code in between the start and end footer makers you created.

Paste the code you copied into your footer.php file in the respective template you are using. It should be the only code in the footer.php file.

Voila! You should now be able to edit at your leisure.

#aaargh #encrypted #footer #pesky

madhatseo

15 years ago

The only challenge here is that you need to check the license - the designers have their footers encoded because they are being "paid" in marketing for web site owners to use their template for free. They usually charge a small fee to remove it and I think it's worth it.

Thanks
1 reply

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A_Kommon_Man

15 years ago

Two things to consider....

1)How do users know that there is nothing malicious encrypted in the footer code? With identity theft all the rage, why would anyone take a chance?

2)Why would a user want to a provide a link on their site that would direct a potential customer away from it. In other words why would anyone give away their hard won traffic?

Thanks
1 reply

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nontemplates

15 years ago

Originally Posted by A_Kommon_Man

Two things to consider....

1)How do users know that there is nothing malicious encrypted in the footer code? With identity theft all the rage, why would anyone take a chance??

Well you should know because you are one of the identity thieves claiming to be the designer of a theme you didn't design. I can understand people wanting to remove sponsored ads in the footer but you are just being unethical. You have no moral, legal or rational excuse for wanting to claim ownership.

Why would a user want to a provide a link on their site that would direct a potential customer away from it. In other words why would anyone give away their hard won traffic?

Why would a designer want to take their hard won time and skill to do a design to give you credit for it?

Thanks

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mywebwork

15 years ago

If I understand correctly you seem to be advocating removing the link to the theme designer. With most free WP Themes that link is part of the license agreement, the designer gives you the result of his/her hard labor in return for a backlink to their site.

Removing that link would violate the agreement as I'm sure you are aware - in fact in your original post you even mentioned giving yourself credit for someone else's work by placing your name in as designer!

As for your "two things to consider":

1 - If you are concerned about malicious code in the footer then don't use someone else's free template. Unless you code everything from scratch yourself you can never be sure what code is running in your theme. Personally I've never experienced any malicious code in the footer of a free WP Theme!

2 - Because the link is a part of the agreement for using the theme for free! If you can't live up to your part of the bargain then design your own theme! You could always recode the link with a "target ='_blank' " tag so that it opens up in a new window.

Encrypting the footer is not a devious plan hatched by evil designers - it's what designers need to do to make sure that they receive the proper credit for their work.

Bill

Thanks
1 reply

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nontemplates

15 years ago

Originally Posted by mywebwork

Encrypting the footer is not a devious plan hatched by evil designers - it's what designers need to do to make sure that they receive the proper credit for their work.

Bill

Well the good news is he knows far too little about how some designers protect their work for his plan to work with all themes. His technique won't work with designers who take some extra steps. In fact it will destroy the whole site. He also advocates using the admin panel to make coding changes which is one of the number one ways newbies screw up their site.

Thanks
1 reply

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A_Kommon_Man

15 years ago

OK, I have been away on a family vacation so I have not been here to respond to all of these statements. Now that I am back, first let me say that just because I use a template does not mean I use the template just the way that it is and slap my name on it! Duh, that WOULD be unethical! However, the designers of these templates do not want you to be able to make the changes that you need to make, i.e., background color, font, rollover color, header and so on.... and then place your signature on your site. i.e., Copyright 2009, A_Kommon_Man.
The template is just that to me, a shell...a LAYOUT.

Any true artist knows that most art is just a representation of someone elses idea reinvented. Apparently Bill Gates has no morals for using some of Steve Jobs' ideas. Maybe Steve Jobs has no morals for borrowing from Xerox....I don't look at it this way.

As for the statement about how I don't know what I'm talking about, and how that's how other peoples sites get broken.... Well, I just gave you one simple method to change your footer. Keyword "One" of a few methods. Did I profess that it would solve all methods? No, however, I have used this method numerous times, and I assure you, it DOES work.
As for me advocating to use the admin panel, I don't. I mentioned it here because I am assuming that someone that has not figure out how to do this on there own is someone that is still probably using the admin panel. I make a my changes locally and then .ftp then up.

If you don't choose to use the instructions that I have given you, then don't. That is your choice. However, you have no right to tell me that I have no moral or ethics based off of a post. Kind sir, or madam....You don't know me well enough to make that kind of judgment. Instead of knocking someone...try being positive.

Thanks
1 reply

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mywebwork

15 years ago

Originally Posted by A_Kommon_Man

If you are like myself and would like to personalize your footer by placing your name at the bottom as the designer

Originally Posted by A_Kommon_Man

Why would a user want to a provide a link on their site that would direct a potential customer away from it. In other words why would anyone give away their hard won traffic?

Originally Posted by A_Kommon_Man

first let me say that just because I use a template does not mean I use the template just the way that it is and slap my name on it! Duh, that WOULD be unethical!

Is it just me or are you contradicting yourself here? As nontemplates and houdy have pointed out there is no validity in saying you are doing this to "to be able to make the changes that you need to make, i.e., background color, font, rollover color, header and so on.... and then place your signature on your site. i.e., Copyright 2009, A_Kommon_Man.", these are style sheet changes that can be made without altering the footer. The Copyright notice on many templates can also be set in the control panel, although this isn't universally true.

If the point of your original post was to illustrate how to edit a footer that is encrypted to ADD information then it is valid and useful information and I'm sure someone will thank you for it. But your post clearly states that you are providing instructions for eliminating the designers credit and link. So don't be surprised by the reaction that you get from other Warriors - as you're new around here you've just learned that this type of activity is not tolerated here. There is another forum whose name isn't mentioned here that would probably welcome this sort of information.

Aloha

Bill

Thanks

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nontemplates 15 years ago

A_Kommon_Man please do no PM again or I will have to report it. I don't need your PMs or excuses as to why you think its right to claim to be the designer of something you didn't design. Removing the designer link doesn't have one thing in the world to do with changing the background colors or the header. Thats a lame excuse and shows you have no idea whatsoever of what you are talking about.

I assure you if Bill gates decided to use Apple's software, remove the name and put MS it wouldn't have stood up in court and Gates would be in jail. I've used quite a few themes and yes I have been inspired by other artists but I don't change a header, background and then slap my name on a design that the author has indicated that he wants to be left intact. There are plenty of GPLed themes that have no such requests from the author. Use one of them. You didn't design it respect the author's wishes.

You have no right to remove the designer link and put your own. No excuse and its VERY unethical. Furthermore what you advocated is a dangerous practice. You are oblivious that some designers go far further in protecting their work and they build in functions that if their footer link is not there the entire theme will be wrecked.
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houdy 15 years ago

I have added to an encrypted footer, but always keep the original links intact. Removing them would be unethical. I have also customized many a theme with encrypted footers and never needed to hack the footer to do so.

All the encryption is for is the text and links and absolutely nothing to do with the color, size or any style, that is all done in the stylesheet.

Knowing how to do something illegal or immoral doesn't make you a thief or immoral but if I posted how to hot wire a car you may think me an experienced car thief?
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Preben Frenning 15 years ago

I would just like to add one thing...

I quite recently used a theme that had links to "foreclosure" etc. blogspot sites, as well as it was coded.

But not only that, it had links above the header too!
I found it REALLY annoying, so I deleted it.

I think users of themes should be allowed to at least edit the links, as well as remove advertising links. Yes. I do.

But I also do like to give credit to the designer by keeping the link to his site.

And btw, I actually think some people who owns some theme sites edit the footer and include links to their own sites.

But one link to the designer himself is okay, and I think users should be allowed to edit it to blend in more smoothly.

Of course the designers should get credit for their work. After all, the theme is FREE. People should be grateful just for that.

And another thing... I purchased a theme as late as today, and it still was a link to the website I bought it from and I deleted it. That's okay, right?

And btw, theme sites with an affiliate program should add it as a theme function. So the footer link is there by default, and when a user of the theme puts in his affiliate id in the theme functions section, the footer link automatically becomes an affiliate link.

Just a little tip from me... I think people will be more likely to keep it there that way.
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nontemplates 15 years ago

Hi Preben,

What you are talking about is sponsored links. Theres alot of opinion about those. Basically the author gets back some of his investment in the theme by selling spots. Wordpress hates that but my personal opinion is that there are just too many themes out there to need to remove something the designer wants in there. Don't like the terms move on to another one of the thousands of free themes.

However I don't think removing sponsored links is anywhere near what we have in this thread and I am not going to blast anyone who removes sponsored links. Designer's links are another matter entirely. Lets face it if you are a warrior you are using these themes to make some bread - so why shouldn't the designer get some credit if thats what he wants?

In purchased themes like the one you bought. Frankly my opinion again - If I bought it then having given the designer what he wanted for his work I think I should be able to use it without an advertisement for the author on my site if I choose. I don't think though I have the right to put my own name there instead as that implies I am the designer which I am not. NOw if I know going in that he/she wants his credit left then again I'd go with that but I might not buy the theme at all. See theres a good chance I am buying this for a business and I don't see the point of telling the whole world after paying money for a theme that I bought a template.

Just me though. Others may disagree.
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Preben Frenning 15 years ago

I have started buying more and more themes lately, as they are often more professional, and I can remove the links.

But then a new question... How much will you need to customize it to say that you are the designer? For example me, I "melted" 2 themes into each other, and did some major customization. And I can't have links to 2 desginers on that site, as well as I can't have links on top of the page!

Any clues about this?
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- A_Kommon_Man 15 years ago
  
  Per Webster's Dictionary, Template- a pattern, mold, or the like. Anything that determines or serves as a pattern; a model.
  
  Now that we have some understanding of what a template serves as, let me move on.
  
  nontemplates, you are beyond dramatic. Let's tell the truth to the people here. It's not like I posted anything in your PM that was not posted here. As a matter of fact, I simply said that in case that you don't get back to the original section, here is what I posted..... and I pasted EXACTLY what was posted here. I was letting you know I read what you said and responded....and doing so got you emotional? Wow!
  You act as if I sent you some vile message. It was your messages that did the name calling. It was your messages were that went down the path of incivility.
  
  AGAIN, as I said before, if you don't wish to use the technique, then don't. It is just that simple.
  
  Mywebwork, I don't believe I am contradicting myself. If you notice in my original post there is a wink by what I said (tongue in cheek humor). I cleared it up for you in my last post by stating I would put in my own personal copyright information after I have made changes to the TEMPLATE (key word) Encrypted footers will not let you do this.
  
  As I am not fishing for design work, why would I have some link as the designer? What design site would I link it out to? Although I have these skills, it's not my main thing. I don't wish to take another designers clientele.
  
  As for your question of the validity.... validity comes in to play when I make the changes to CSS and have the site looking like something that is truly mine, shouldn't I be able to take out the original template designers name and put in my copyright information? I CLEARLY said in my last post, that if one is simply using the template as-is and not doing anything to it, and then taking credit for the design, of course that is unethical.
  
  I joined this forum because I read in a Jordan Matthew's report, that the people in the forum are polite. I don't feel that politeness. I clearly see that I need to be very specific here, lest the morality squad will come out and make judgment.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  nontemplates 15 years ago
  
  No one really cares about your understanding of the word template. If it copyrighted its not yours. This doesn't deserve much more dignity of an answer. That you persist in defending this says all that needs to be said.
  
  Some people can't stop digging a hole deeper and deeper for themselves. Heres a clue - You are ruining your rep on this forum with every additional post.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  A_Kommon_Man 15 years ago
  
  No one really cares about your understanding of the word template. If it copyrighted its not yours.
  The definition was not given for my understanding but for clarity in general of what a template really is.
  
  This doesn't deserve much more dignity of an answer.
  However you did take the time to respond again.....
  
  That you persist in defending this says all that needs to be said.
  The fact that you took something that I said and TOTALLY went all Judge Judy on it, say all that needs to be said. It shows that you are very judgemental and overly emotional.
  
  Some people can't stop digging a hole deeper and deeper for themselves. Heres a clue - You are ruining your rep on this forum with every additional post.
  The fact that I choose to defend myself from someone that has been rude does say alot. It says that I stand up for myself. Other people in this forum have said what they have wanted to say without name calling or being rude. I can respect their comments. I can disagree with them and they can disagree with me and we can move on. So if I "ruin my rep" for standing up to someone that has been uncivil, then so be it. I really don't think you would be coming at me this way if I were not new to this forum and that's sad. I hope all of this has made you feel really BIG in the eyes of your peers.
  
  We are all here to LEARN and SHARE, and not for this petty stuff.
  
  Thanks
  
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waloosh 15 years ago

You know.. I'm a designer for both graphics and websites. That includes creating templates for users that don't know how or don't want to make one themselves.

I put my website in the footer in all of them as the designer of the template. I do it because I want credit for it, I want people to know that I can design a website for them.

If you take out that credit, people wont know I exist, I don't get any money, I wont exist anymore. Therefore, no new templates for anybody to rip off of me.

Also, you will most likely see this on about... 99% if not every SINGLE template design website:

OWNERSHIP - You may not claim intellectual or exclusive ownership to any of our products, modified or unmodified. All products are property of independent content providers.

You know what that means? It means YOU CAN NOT CLAIM A DESIGN AS YOUR OWN.
The footers are encrypted for a reason--For you not to touch them. I would sue you if I found out you deleted my footer that was encrypted. It's against the terms of service and is a means of prosecution to any persons who don't abide by them.
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- 1 reply
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- nontemplates 15 years ago
  
  There are some exceptions. some GPl themes that don't require you to leave them in and some GPL "Framework" themes where the author expects that other designers will do their own designs using underlying code.
  
  Thanks
  
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hanadaddy 15 years ago

With the themes in wordpress.org, you can do whatever you want since they are under GNU compatible licenses. So you can remove the author's link without worrying about anything. But I tend to leave the link on for a while just to thank the author.
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seomaxima 15 years ago

The tutorial is effective, but I am sorry it looks very unethical to me. The free templates cost you nothing and all the designers and coders ask for is to keep ther links in the bottom. A template take hours to create and its unethical to remove them if you don't like it.

One possible solution might be to contact the designer and asking for permissions, or donating a few bucks for the authority to remove the links.
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That pesky encrypted footer! Aaargh!!!

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