How to Block Furl.net Downloading Tool

Looksmart hide the info

[Angonasec]

The Looksmart Berks have launched an appalling 'tool' called Furl, which enables punters to download your site.

Their official site furl.net has no discernable info on how webmasters can block this 'wonderful' instrument.

Anybody found out yet?

Ta!

[too much information]

does it identify itself by user agent? you could always block it's UA if it has any identifiers.

[Angonasec]

I've not yet had the 'pleasure' of a visit from the device, I just discovered it on the Looksmart site, and want to be ready for the thing.

Looksmart not giving the data is a sure sighn you will NOT want it calling for tea.

Anybody know the gen?

[superbird]

What's wrong with things like that archiving information? does it interfere with affiliate links or something?

Just interested, because personally I find Furl helps me with my sites much more than it hinders because I can get at all my information I've found over the past year or so.

I'm sure there is a way of blocking it though, plenty of sites only let me save the URL and not a copy.

FWIW, Furl was developed by an independent company then bought out by Looksmart. Looksmart wouldn't have the imagination.

[Angonasec]

'What's wrong with it?'

No doubt you use it legally, however when you begin to write and create your own material, then observe it appearing mysteriously without authorization on the web, usually associated with nefarious GRQ schemes, you may catch onto why it's best to take the initiative by blocking these devices.

I'm personally very grateful to those contributors to WebmasterWorld who've shared their tips and scripts to help us protect our valuable copyright, and reputations.

PS. Yes, I agree the bods behind Looksmart deserved to sink. I dealt with them firsthand, and couldn't believe such ineptitude. Now the wallies offer us Furl!

[quadcity]

Hello TMI.
>does it identify itself by user agent? you could
>always block it's UA if it has any identifiers.
I just Furled one of my websites and viewed my log file. This user agent hit each page that I furled:
Jakarta Commons-HttpClient/2.0.1

[keyplyr]

This user agent hit each page that I furled: Jakarta Commons-HttpClient/2.0.1

If you block that UA, you'll be blocking lots of users/tools that use this type of http client (for various reasons.)

[jakarta.apache.org...]

[Angonasec]

So can you suggest a safe way to block furl use?

[keyplyr]

If you're asking me, sorry no - not with a generic UA like that. There are lots of guys around here that love to test these things, so maybe someone will find something unique about it's visit to identify it specifically. Then you might be able to block it.