Businesses warned on software modifications
February 10, 2006
Businesses were today warned to be vigilant when using third-party modifications to their online software.
It comes after it was found that a developer providing modifications on the popular Invision Power Board software, was discovered to be secretly adding code to promote another website.
The method - known as cloaking - ensured that search engines found content promoting the third-party site, but the content was invisible to human users.
The problem is that search engines do not like being fooled in this way, and BMW’s German site was recently removed from Google for very similar tactics.
Use of the modification in question could lead to many Invision Power Boards being also delisted from Google and other search engines, until the illicit code is removed.
Modifications to online software is very popular, especially on community building platforms such as forums and blogs.
However, while some businesses may use such modifications where they see advantages, it needs underlining that using third-party code modifications needs to be treated as Caveat Emptor - buyer beware.