The E-Mail Protector Script

Introduction

This script protects your e-mail addresses from being grabbed by the most widely used e-mail collecting robots. These robots are nasty programs which visit web sites and enter all e-mail addresses they find into a database. Once in a database unsolicited commercial e-mail ("spam") will be sent to the e-mail addresses.

The emp.pl script prevents this by checking whether an e-mail collecting robot accesses your web site. If this is the case the script hides your e-mail address. If the script is configured to run in bellingerent mode it also prints out a list of 10,000 invalid e-mail addresses, thereby rendering the database pretty much useless.

Disclaimer

Usage of this script is completely at your own risk. By using it you agree to indemnify both Christoph Rüegg and Siteware Technologies from all claims which might result from using this script; namely, but not limited to lawsuits, missed business opportunities, and monetary losses.

The Script

Configuration and Installation

Download and uncompress the emp.zip archive and configure it as follows:

• If Perl is not installed at /usr/local/bin/perl change the first line according to your directory structure.
• Replace the dummy e-mail address with your own (resp. your most used e-mail address).
• Choose the operating mode (standard or bellingerent). You are advised not to run the script in bellingerent mode if you don't completely understand the consequences.
• Upload the script (in ASCII mode) to your cgi-bin directory and CHMOD it (only on UNIX systems) to 755.

That's it.

Usage

The script has two optional parameters, user and domain. If you omit a parameter the script displays the default value specified in the configuration section.

E.g., you entered myname@mydomain.com as your default address in the configuration section of the scripts. Then
<!--#include virtual="/cgi-bin/emp.pl"--> will print myname@mydomain.com while
<!--#include virtual="/cgi-bin/emp.pl?user=mysecondaddress"--> results in mysecondaddress@mydomain.com.
The domain parameter works the same way: To get mysecondaddress@my2nddomain.com you have to type
<!--#include virtual="/cgi-bin/emp.pl?user=mysecondaddress&domain=my2nddomain.com"-->.

Important: Replace your e-mail addresses not only in mailto: links but also at all other locations, including within <!-- comments -->.

Still confused? Need help? Proceed to the Spam Fighters Discussion Forum.