Looksmart click tracking

Is this new?

[keeper]

Went to Looksmart UK today to perform some searches. I must admit that I don't spend a lot of time there, but noticed they have an interesting way of click tracking.

In the results under "Selected Sites from LookSmart" I did my usual right click "open page in new window" trick and I was redirected to BTLooksmarts homepage.

But left clicking sent me to the site I wanted to visit. Checked the source to see what was going on and noticed an interesting javascript controlling the click url.

Any one know:

a) if it's new?
and
b) err, why?

Have searched around the archives but no cigar.

[keeper]

I did some more searching and found a post by Brett in the Tracking and Logging forum.

[webmasterworld.com...]

Says that an "open this link in a new window" on some browsers doesn't always pass the referral string. Perhaps Looksmart is taking measures to reduce its "no refers"...

[engine]

I think you may have hit the nail on the head. ;)

[Markrh]

This change was made to keep a client happy.
They did not want users to see the actual href on the status bar!
I implemented this change quickly and told those in charge that the right click would break.
I have a better version that restores the right click by hiding the links in a <SPAN></SPAN> which should be live this week.

BTW all our links open in a new window anyway :)

I am the (shortly to be former) web developer at BTLookSmart London office