I didn't tell anyone, but I was forced to disable remote linking due to some... Unforeseen consequences with folder indexes. Where when you access a folder without an index page, you see a list of files instead? That was broken due to the rewrite rules I had in place, and I didn't have time to fix them, so I just shut them off. Of course, I still really don't have the time, but I did spent the morning fixing it!

Now, all images people link to from their own sites will get that lovely little paw-print image instead, as it used to be. But now folder indexes work! Turns out there was a problem with the .htaccess files in each of the folders that were broken. In each of those folders, you need to put Options FollowSymLinks Indexes if you want the files to show up. Otherwise you're slapped with a lovely 403 Forbidden! I read where it's sometimes a good idea to forbid images, but that makes it look like your site's broken... And I think it's far cooler to have an unexpected image to pop up on the perpetrator's site! BUT! In addition to images and indexes working properly now, I went ahead and prevented anyone from remotely linking to any MP3 file I have hosted anywhere on my site. Those dudes are far larger than any image, so I thought I should do something about it. The audio files, though, WILL slap you with a 403 Forbidden... Can't really redirect those.

Unless... I make a recording of myself SAYING that "no linky lol" thing. Hmm. Or, better yet, make it so when people link to an MP3 of mine, they hear TW screaming about Zadok shaving off his beard. Either way, MP3s can't be remotely linked anymore. Plus, I was also able to completely lock down certain folders that I only ever intended to be personal hosting folders... They have indexes, however, so someone could discover them, and that's fine. If I wanted them hidden, I'd password protect it. I'm not stupid! But now nobody can remote link what I don't want them to... And with my new-found understanding, it will only get more restrictive from here, bwahaha! But never fear! Everything on this blog still works perfectly, and the links I share with people will still work perfectly. You just need to navigate directly to the location rather than use someone else's link.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 3:04 pm and is filed under General.