It has come to my attention that javascript will not fool all the bots. Also on the table is OCR. This has pushed my email-hiding techniques into new realms. I wanted to do it all in CSS. Find some sort of rogue way to push the text in after some sort of event; but that's javascript; That's CGI. It is also CSS2 and very promising with the before and after pseudo classes - but it's not fully browser implemented. Nothing can fill the void I have. think think think. gadZOOKS! WHY hadn't I thought of this before? ...flash. All this time, and it was right there, under my nose.

THIS is what I was trying out (and having fair success with) before flash:

1.) Call a separate fairly complex obfuscated js script (what I would call complex to a spam-bot) to a linked html file with
2.) A further obfuscation method of showing the address and mailto: on that page, and pray the %$#@! bot gets a timeout error or packet
loss or something while following the trail (wishful thinking).

CURRENT POPULAR METHODS
The highly popular and fairly safe method is javascript. Remember now; It's good - and fun, but not foolproof.

Another method is the form. Users do not like forms for serious business correspondence. There is no way to track what was written in the simple boxes; hence the extensive line of mail-clients we have available. (I did NOT say they were all good! ;o)

Let's not forget all the munged addresses any fool could write a program to pick up the ASCII & ampersand code (a little too simple to read) and even if you dice the entire address into ASCII or even VBcode - guess what? Those stinkin' spam-heads have that technology too.

Hence my new COMPLETELY HIDDEN TO SPAM-BOTS method: Flash! But everyone cannot use that. Or should I say it is not cost effective to run out and buy a $200+ software package for such a purpose. For all you (newbie) users who have flash, here is a free sample code in my effort to help the world STOP SPAM! ( yourownNOSPAM@this-domain template 1.2MB ) It's not perfect - but it is very easy to customize.


Conclusion: Best method: CGI; I of course like my flash method best. Of course, neither is always an available option, so let us move onward.

The best you can do client-side is:

TA-DA! ...

• 1.) Place this meta in the heading: <META NAME="ROBOTS" CONTENT="NOFOLLOW">
  [ref this: http://www.w3.org/Search/9605-Indexing-Workshop/ReportOutcomes/Spidering.txt] and then;



• 2.) Use the CSS background-image method to show address as link (as a mouseover; REASON reference: OCR issue). Most users will then be able to write it into their e-mail address to: bar.



• 3.) Create hidden text layer link under CSS background image with words like "Place Mouse Here for E-Mail" (Some will also have images turned off so we will further need this hyperlink to...)



• 4.) Create href page to plain text version of address with an explanation how to send email to me[at]example[dot][com][org][etc] But written well. I also coded in some colors to help people figure it out! See the page I created www.robin-ann.com/em/nospam.htm for this purpose. (I'll thank december 14 for the tip later) plus you might find some other fun stuff there ;o)


And if you're really lucky and have flash (or know me and now can get your own e-mail address in flash code with its completely hidden address filing technology) you can:


• 5.) Place the flash file near the above method's (#'s 1-2-3) and lastly,



• 6.) Add a little SSI detour, Then,

VIOLA! NO SPAM SHOULD EVER COME YOUR WAY! To see it in action: look here