Strange discovery while using suggest a link.

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   Randy Godwinposted 11 years ago

   I was attempting to update the links on a hub and was checking the previous links to be sure I didn't duplicate them in the same article.  I was using the Suggest-a-Link tool at the time.  The very first link I checked I had no memory of putting there. It seemed strange because I seldom link to other accounts when I have so many related articles of my own I can link to.  But that's not all.
   
   The highlighted article was so lacking in pertinent info I don't believe I would have included it in my article in the first place.  But it gets better.  When I tried to delete the link using the red "delete" option in the link tool, it would not let me delete it or replace it with my other listed articles.  I had to edit the capsule to get rid of it.
   
   Now I'm wondering how many of my hubs have these mysterious links in them and if there is an easier way to get rid of them if there are.  This was on my best trafficked hub so it does raise a few red flags for me.  Anyone else noticed this?
   
                                              

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      SimeyCposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Have you tried on different browsers? It's possible your browser may have been hijacked and is inserting links. I haven't noticed it on any of my hubs so far...

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         Randy Godwinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         No I haven't, Simey.  I just discovered this right before I posted.  And how could someone else manipulate HP's linking program to where I couldn't delete the link as I can my own?  I haven't checked my other hubs yet but since this one was at the very first of my most trafficked article it seems like the hubber was trying to divert my traffic to hers/his account.  This person has been here over four years according to their profile. 
         
         I hope one of the staff will pop on and tell me how thi happened and what to do about it.  I dislike having to check each and every link in my hubs as you can imagine. 
         
                                              

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            SimeyCposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Hmm didn't realize it was another hubber! There are malicious programs that can insert links onto any page - I just wondered if that had happened - if it's only happening on HP then that is a big problem.
            
            I'm going to check some of my top hubs!!!

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   2. 78

      Sally's Troveposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The suggest links tool is not exactly elegant either in the links it suggests or the ability to get rid of them once you've inserted them.
      
      First, you say you have no recollection of putting that link in your hub, but chances are you did. This has happened to me. Shucks, I can't remember every thing!
      
      Second, HP made it clear a long time ago (although I can't point you to where it was said) that to remove a "suggested" link, you'd have to edit your hub and remove the link from the capsule. There's no other way to do it.
      
      Third, I don't think there's anything malicious going on..."Suggest links" is a quirky feature that seemed like a good idea at the time (remember that this feature also helped boost your Karma), but may be superfluous now.
      
      Last, I wrote a hub a long time ago about how to use the suggest links tool to break through writer's block...the stuff that tool suggests is sometimes hysterical!

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      1. 60

         Randy Godwinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I'm sorry Sally, but I've removed the links I've added myself before, in fact I did so today on some.  I've just found another link by someone from Nairobi.  Coincidentally, it too was from an obscure hubber of 4+ years of membership.  I'm going to leave it for now as an example of this happening.  In the meantime, I'll check the other related hubs for the same type links. 
         
         I'm not suggesting HP is doing anything nefarious, just warning others of the possibility these links could take searchers off of their page.  Especially if the link is at the beginning of the hub.
         
         I'm sure some member of staff will shortly pop in and clear this up.  Well, perhaps not sure, but maybe. 
         
                                                

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            Randy Godwinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            bump!
            
            
                                           

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         2. 78

            Sally's Troveposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            What an interesting link you provided...like you said, wait and see.

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2. 93

   habeeposted 11 years ago

   Wow, RD. That's pretty scary. These were embedded links with anchor texts?

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   1. 60

      Randy Godwinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I was checking those I had put on the articles using the Suggest Links tool and found these two so far.  Perhaps I did indeed put them there but I cannot see why I would do this, especially when both are not really pertinent to my hubs nor particularly well written.  It may simply be "Old Timers " disease. 
      
      I still haven't looked through all of my hubs yet to see if there were more of them.  It takes a lot of time to do this so I hoped someone from staff would tell us something.  If it's some I've somehow added, then I want to know this too. 
      
      
                                         

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3. 60

   paradigmsearchposted 11 years ago

   Hey, Randy.
   
   Your thread just caused me to poke HP with a stick. Maybe you would like to add to it.
   
   http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/100000

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4. 81

   CMHypnoposted 11 years ago

   Randy, maybe your account is really the Twilight Zone?

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   1. 60

      Randy Godwinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I believe my account may be hexed by all of the Wiccans here on the hub, Cynthia!
      
      
      
                                       

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         CMHypnoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Sighs: Does that mean I have to dance around Salisbury Plain again to do a ritual to lift the hex?  Do you know what a cold, wet summer we are having over here? Really not suitable for the 'skyclad' stuff!

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         1. 60

            Randy Godwinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, you must dance, Cynthia!  The "Moonwalk" is usually the preferred step for this type of hex. 
            
            Since the weekend is now over perhaps someone from staff will address my concerns over this strange discovery.  But they could be on vacation since this is close to July 4th.
            
            
                                                 

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5. 88

   IzzyMposted 11 years ago

   This is quite worrying.
   
   I have also recently done a grand edit, and added in links where none were before, but also checked the odd hub that I used the link tool in, to make sure that the links were to relevant and fairly decent (IMO) hubs.
   
   I did not come across any links I had not put there myself, even on the very odd hub where I had previously used the Suggest Links tool.
   
   I add my own links in, using the ordinary links tool in edit mode. Even then, I find it far from perfect to see the quality of hubs suggested, and mostly preferred to do my own HP search for decent hubs.
   
   If this is a new thing, I may have to check all my hubs again for links which I did not put in, which will take me another 3 weeks!
   
   To anyone worrying, if you mouse over any links in your hub, the url will come up bottom left of your screen.

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