NationStates Jolt Archive

Yes, I know it's been asked for about pi*132.6 times before. It has always been turned and if I remember right it's for security reasons.

I'd like to propose the following to have a link to an offsite forum:

1.) Don't allow tags to do it in the WFE. Have it as a field that can be filled out in the regional controls that has only the URL then code that URL into the WFE.
2.) Allow only the common offsite forum providers (invisionfree,proboards, etc...). If the link does not have that string in it then don't accept it.
3.) Allow a different URL with moderator acceptance.

That's all.

Actually, a close variant of what you're proposing has been considered, but at the moment there are no plans to implement it.

You can never block it from re-directing members to any other site. I like the idea, though. Many don't know how to copy/paste text to a browser.

Too bad, I understand.

And then as a Hail Mary...

No chance I could get the code for the regional control page and the code that generates the wfe, make the modifications, and then give them back.

And while you're at it if I could get your bank account number and any possible password that would be nice too.

I like the Idea of a Url link to a forum, and make it a one warning offense to d9irect it to any site other than a forum or a regional website
if it is directed to a Prawn site, Immeadiate ban

I think that causes more problems than it is worth.

I would hope that most people know that it only takes a few seconds to hit Cntrl-C and Cntrl-P to transfer an URL into another browser...

It seems that while the option would be nice, the possibility of further problems renders it not as important as saving the game staff from a lot of extra work, and our eyes from misleading links.

2.) Allow only the common offsite forum providers (invisionfree,proboards, etc...). If the link does not have that string in it then don't accept it.

Wouldn't help alot of people, since some use less common providers, and some even use personal servers.

I would hope that most people know that it only takes a few seconds to hit Cntrl-C and Cntrl-P to transfer an URL into another browser...


Interesting opinion but your hopes are being dashed. There is a pathetically high number of poeple who don't know how to copy and paste and will re-type the URL into their browser bar. In a game that is as easy to use as this one where everything is a link, the only thing directly connected to this game that plays a major role that doesn't have a link is the offsite forums in the WFE.

So I ask moderators why this isn't possible and express thought about how it may be done because I fail to see how it could be a security risk. If they turn me down I'm ok with that because they have knowledge that I don't have (i.e. - what the security risks actually are).


Wouldn't help alot of people, since some use less common providers, and some even use personal servers.

Yes, that's why I talked about item 3 whereby a moderator could approve a link. An example link would be the heartlands forums which have been around for year(s?) and are very unlikely to change.

Interesting opinion but your hopes are being dashed. There is a pathetically high number of poeple who don't know how to copy and paste and will re-type the URL into their browser bar. In a game that is as easy to use as this one where everything is a link, the only thing directly connected to this game that plays a major role that doesn't have a link is the offsite forums in the WFE.

So I ask moderators why this isn't possible and express thought about how it may be done because I fail to see how it could be a security risk. If they turn me down I'm ok with that because they have knowledge that I don't have (i.e. - what the security risks actually are).

Yes, and these are the people more likely to click on a link to www.thisisnotavirussite.ru/viruses/virus.exe without thinking.


Yes, that's why I talked about item 3 whereby a moderator could approve a link. An example link would be the heartlands forums which have been around for year(s?) and are very unlikely to change.

We have enough on our hands without having to validate links in World Factbook Entries.

I agree with Myrth. It just doesn't seem practical or feasible, but Sal is a whiz, so maybe he'll pull a rabbit or two out of his hat. :p

I do think it's sad that people don't know how to cut and paste links...perhaps information like that should be added to the game FAQ, if it's really such a problem.

Feel free to include instructions on copy/pasting in your WFE. As far as the issues, there are several:

Allowing links to entered directly into the WFE is a potential security risk and would take quite a bit of work to ensure that I haven't accidentally opened up the whole game to hackers.
Separate link. Technically, this is very feasible. However, since URLs can be included in the WFE, we don't see significant benefits from adding this. Also, people would abuse this, we know this, and we don't have the resources to verify every link before it gets posted.
We'd often be held responsible by players for where those links go, even when we have no control over them.
Even as a seperate link, I'd need to work quite hard to make sure that it doesn't open up hacking attempts.

Thus, as it stands now, this appears to cause too much work, create too much risk, for relatively little payoff.

Yes, and these are the people more likely to click on a link to www.thisisnotavirussite.ru/viruses/virus.exe without thinking.

Perhaps you could do one of those dialogs that IRC does; "This link leads to a file off of the NationStates.net server called viruses.exe" blah, blah, blah; "only navigate to this link if you are sure it is safe," and so forth.

If nothing else, it would make people stop for a moment.

--Felix

[Edit] Bah. Should read all posts before I reply.