Image Tracking

Can It Be Done?

[PKfanSteph]

Is there a way to find out who is linking to my images? The reason has more to do (at least for now) with wanting to let people know if I move an image so they can update their pages. It would also be good to know what pages I have that link to a specific image so I can make sure it is updated as well.

I do have a cgi-directory, but am on a virtual server so I'm limited in my permissions. I have a Stats log, but there's so much to go through there!

Thanks,

-- Steph

[divaone]

hi pkfansteph,

for starters, you can search for a program that will analyze your logs for you and provide you with a more readable and friendly output. try keywords: log analyzer.

once you find out where the image linking is, you can provide the users with an update if you choose. i would suggest using a script to call the image: tell the script where the image is and give people the script url (like mysite.com/images.php?img=image.gif). if you move the image, tell the script where you've moved it, avoiding having to tell the users. there are php scripts for this purpose.

this may also solve finding out where you have linked to the images within your own site in the future. until then, make a backup copy of your website files, then search the files for the image names (to find your pages that link to them). there are good search utilities for this (bkreplacem is one of many).

there may be other simpler ways of doing the above. someone else might provide another answer for you.

hth

[twozny]

Here is a thought. A relatively unknown process called Steganography might help the tracking of stolen images. Steganography is the process of hiding information in graphics, among other things. There are several programs available to do this. You could embed your site information into your graphics. No one can see this information as it hides in empty pixel info space. To the viewer it looks just like a normal picture. If you find what you suspect is your graphic you could just dload it and check for the steganographic signature. You then effectively have found a smoking gun.