Slashdot Mirror

Here: http://www.majcher.com/nytview.html

http://www.majcher.com/nytview.html
fast way to read the original article

better mess their database with a form-with-crap-filler or use bugmenot.com

New York Times Registration Generator

http://www.majcher.com/img/alyssa-milano-bikini-mu d-3.jpg

Yes, quick searches rock. Useful ones include Google, Wikipedia, dictionary.com, IMDB, and so on. I also made one for New York Times articles without registration that helps a lot while browsing Slashdot and deciding to RTFA.

When they went to the full blown login, I modified the New York Times random login generator javascriptlet (see http://www.majcher.com/nytview.html) to fill in all required fields of the wash compost login page with random gibberish, and now, I've been I don't know how many different, random, unique, logins. Each time I go back, and each time I access an article, I use the javascriptlet to register another random login. And I will continue to do so as long as the system works the way it does now.

And, lastly, I don't read the compost online, too much trouble, to difficult to actually find what you want. The paper copy (which I also receive) is by far superior in every way to the web system. The only use for the web compost is to send the url to a friend to say "hey, check out this article". But to actually "READ" the news, no way, no how.

The NYTimes random login generator. On this page is a javascript bookmarklet that will fill the NYTimes "who are you" page with random data, then you just click submit and you are golden. Couple that with clearing your NYTimes cookies and you fill their DB with lots of junk data. I am personally responsible for probably 50+ completely random registrations at the NYTimes alone.

It's also quite easy to modify the bookmarklet to work with your favorite site. I modified it to work with the Washington Post and coupled with a cookie clearing javascriptlet I've been personally responsible for a ton of "info poison" for the Wash Post.

My washpost/nytimes cookie clearing javascriptlets are based upon the cookie clearing javascriptlet from this site: http://www.squarefree.com/bookmarklets/

Every time I have some reason to visit either site, I generate a brand new, completely random registration.

Here are few ways that dirty pinko commie subversives can bypass the NYTimes registration:

1. The old Majcher Login Generator
2. BugMeNot
3. By appending "?partner=GOOGLE" (w/o quotes) to the NYTimes URL, like this: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/31/technology/31spa m.html?partner=ANYTHINGHERE

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http://www.majcher.com/nytview.html

A javascriptlet there will allow you to generate a totally random login for viewing the article. Every Slashdotter which accesses the article should create a new random login in turn, filling their database with useless random login id's that are only used once and then forgotten about.

And don't forget Marc Majcher's nytview page. It works well if you RTFM.

-ted, waiting for the inevitable replies about "who cares if they require you to register!" and "big companies are evil!" and "who cares if it isn't goatse!"

Atleast I think this is what you were referring to... :-/

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Adam Funk writes:

I found out how to block referrer information in Mozilla too; it's just a bit more trouble than in Opera. Put this line:

user_pref("network.http.sendRefererHeader", 0);

in the user.js file (create the file if necessary).

Actually, this was previously posted on /.:
Random NYTimes.com Registration Generator

You'll have to block referer or save the page locally, however, because NYT blocked all registrations originating from that domain.

Warning to /.ers: your going to hav too read the instructions on how too work it good, or it won't. LOL WTF!!!!!!111

But then you have to wait for google to get the link which sometimes doesn't happen for days.

Better is to make it a bookmarklet, or use the Random NYTimes Registration Generator
See this link for more info.

I can't believe that an article about scientists creating a type of matter only theorized of in the very begining seconds of the universe - how to avoid registration of the NYTimes page gets the highest mods.

Just auto-generate your registration

Go grab the random NYTimes registration form. Works every time!

Google link for NYT Story and of course the NYT Random Login Generator

These days you actually have to downlad the java script to your computer, because of those clever NYT people, but it's still possible for those who have personal issues with registrations....

Taken from this site, it will randomly create a registration login for you. No personal data filled out. Amazing.

He even has code to create a bookmarklet. Set it as a keyword such as "nyt" or something.

Whenever you get to an article that requires you to register, type 'nyt' into your URL bar, press enter and you are done. :P

Random NYTimes Registration Generator

Why bother when others have done all the the hard work for you?

Here's a little piece of javascript you can save as a bookmark that automatically fills out the registration form with random junk (modified by me based on code by Jason Day found on www.majcher.com:

javascript:function getString(len){var chars=new Array('a','b','c','d','e','f','g','h','i','j','k', 'l','m','n','o','p','q','r','s','t','u','v','w','x ','y','z','A','B','C','D','E','F','G','H','I','J', 'K','L','M','N','O','P','Q','R','S','T','U','V','W ','X','Y','Z','1','2','3','4','5','6','7','8','9', '0');var str=chars[Math.floor(Math.random()*52)];for(var i=1;i<len;i++){ str=str+chars[Math.floor(Math.random()*62)]}return str}function getDigits(len){var chars=new Array('0','1','2','3','4','5','6','7','8','9');var str=chars[Math.floor(Math.random()*10)];for(var i=1;i<len;i++){ str=str+chars[Math.floor(Math.random()*10)]}return str}function setFields(){var idx,F=document.forms;for(var i=0;i<F.length;i++){ if(F[i].action.toUpperCase().indexOf('REGI')!=-1){ idx=i;break}}var login=getString(Math.floor(Math.random()*8)+6);var passw=getString(8);var email=getString(Math.floor(Math.random()*4)+12)+ '@'+getString(Math.floor(Math.random()*5)+4)+ '.com';document.forms[idx].login.value=login; document.forms[idx].passwd1.value=passw; document.forms[idx].passwd2.value=passw; document.forms[idx].email.value=email; document.forms[idx].saveoption_check.checked=false ; if(Math.random()>0.5){ document.forms[idx].gender_check[0].checked=true} else{ document.forms[idx].gender_check[1].checked=true} document.forms[idx].zip.value=getDigits(5); document.forms[idx].birth_year.value= Math.floor(Math.random()*70)+20; document.forms[idx].country.options[ Math.floor(Math.random()*238)].selected=true; document.forms[idx].income_select.options[ Math.floor(Math.random()*10)+1].selected=true; document.forms[idx].industry_select.options[ Math.floor(Math.random()*36)+1].selected=true; document.forms[idx].title_select.options[ Math.floor(Math.random()*36)+1].selected=true; document.forms[idx].function_select.options[ Math.floor(Math.random()*16)+1].selected=true; document.forms[idx].paper_select.options[ Math.floor(Math.random()*4)+1].selected=true} setFields();void(null)

[TMB]

I fully agree with you 100 %. And tell me about it. And what do you think of this site . Random NYTimes.com Registration Generator http://www.majcher.com/nytview.html

You go here and it fills the NYTimes registration page with random characters. Maybe it might come handy some day, but, oh god, you must be pretty angry about it. Yeah. And tell me about it. I agree with you fully 100%.

Wow. It's a NY Times story, but someone finally figured out you can use the Google affiliate link to skip all the free reg hoo-haw. I think that's a first. Been waiting for that ever since the account generator stopped working.
Please keep it up!

For those who don't want to reg.

How soon they forget...

Ha! Now who's the loser? Me, that's who.

Anyway, you can get the bookmarklet from this page. Or, you know, the usual.

http://www.majcher.com/nytview.html

But can they handle all the fake logins that ./ users will create just to view the article?

for those that don't want to bother registering to read the article.

Perhaps I should point you to this site. It's a random registration generator for NY times pages. Just enter the link in the page and enter without having to register.

Or just use the Google News partner link. Or the NYT Random login generator? Just thinking out loud...

Anyone who cannt be bothered to register and give your personal details the the New York Times remember you can use this login generator.

Well, that won't be nescessary.

I wonder how many non-autorative entries they've got in their members database! (-8

For example, you can always use the NYT Random Login Generator (read at least the first paragraph there)

Create a login

Slashdot's use of the phrase "free reg blah blah" could be a neologism.

Just how many stories hosted by The New York Times must we see here before Hemos puts in a link to the NYT Random Login Generator

Yes, I googled for it. Yes, I've googled for information about girls. Yes, there are too many of Chris Simmons's online. ;-)

Besides, lying to the NYTimes is really easy. Go here

Besides, lying to the NYTimes is really easy. Go here

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Light-Emitting Silicon Shines Much Brighter in New Invention
Why can't slashdot become a partner to NYT?

If you don't want to give google false page hits there's always majcher

Is that why they require a logon?

Good job moderators [/sarcas], but if you really want to get in, just remeber the NYT Random Login Generator. It won't work directly from the website anymore because the Times has blocked all requests from his site, but just download and run it from your machine, click the button, refresh once and you're in. Works like a charm.

If your lazy

Courtesy of the NYT Random Login Generator, here is the article:

[Original Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/27/technology/27FRE E.html

New Software Quietly Diverts Sales Commissions
By JOHN SCHWARTZ and BOB TEDESCHI

Some popular online services are using a new kind of software to divert sales commissions that would otherwise be paid to small online merchants by big sites like Amazon and eToys.

Critics call the software parasite-ware and stealware. But the sites that use the software, which is made by nearly 20 companies and used by dozens, say that it is perfectly legal, because their users agree to the diversion.

The amounts involved are estimated by those in the industry to have mounted into the hundreds of thousands of dollars and are likely to continue to grow -- in part because most users are unaware that the software is operating on their computers.

There is no cost to the customer, but those who run small Web sites that funnel sales to the big merchants say that they are being hurt. "It's painful when someone walks in and takes sales right from under me," said Shawn Collins, who runs a number of sites that feed customers to Amazon and other merchants. "I probably saw a drop-off of 30 percent in income for the past six months."

The diversion begins when consumers get software from the Internet that helps them swap music or other files, or find bargains online. As they install the software, they are asked whether they would also like to show support for the software maker by shopping through an online affiliate program. These programs typically give a percentage of each purchase back to the affiliate -- in this case, the software maker -- as a commission.

What the consumers are not told clearly is that if they agree to participate, their computers may be electronically marked: all future purchases will look as if they were made through the software maker's site, even if they were not.

In many versions of the software, a purchase will look as if it was made through the software maker's site even if the shopper came in through another site that has its own affiliate agreement with the online store in question. Those affiliate sites include small businesses and even charities that use affiliate links as fund-raisers.

Some version of the diversion software is used by some of the most popular music trading sites that have tried to fill the void left by the collapse of Napster, including Morpheus, Kazaa and LimeWire. The companies say their software has been downloaded by tens of millions of Web surfers.

Although estimates are hard to come by, those in the business say that the amount of money involved could be large. The affiliate market, in which smaller sites funnel sales to larger ones in return for commissions, accounts for roughly 15 to 20 percent of the estimated $72 billion online market, said Carrie Johnson, an analyst with Forrester Research. A successful affiliate Web site can make $60,000 a month from referrals alone, said Haiko De Poel Jr., chief executive of Abestweb, an online forum devoted to affiliate marketing. He has organized owners of sites to fight Morpheus and others.

A spokeswoman for Amazon, which has 800,000 affiliate sites feeding it customers, said the company worked to protect those sites from hijacking. "We don't allow sites that use a download or a tool to redirect a shopping session to their account if they do not initiate the shopping session," said the spokeswoman, Patty Smith. "We've kicked out a number of sites for doing that."

Last week, Amazon cut off affiliate payments to Morpheus, one site that employs the shopping software, said an online executive. Coldwater Creek, an online clothing store, has also blocked Morpheus.

Some companies that make and use the diversion software said they were rewriting the programs so that they would no longer take money intended for others. But these changes may not affect copies of the software already installed on millions of computers. "We're not interested in stealing any Web site's revenue," said Greg Bildson, chief operating officer for LimeWire. "We know that this is sort of a new and sort of strange area, but we're interested in doing the right thing." He referred calls to TopMoxie, the maker of the software that LimeWire uses to get affiliate money.

Patrick Toland, a vice president for sales and marketing at TopMoxie, said that the company did not intend for its software to displace other affiliates' rights and that his company had altered the software in the last two weeks to stop substituting its affiliate identification code for those of other sites. "The second we realized this is a problem, we turned that boat around and said, `Let's get this out,' " he said. He added that the amount of money involved was minuscule.

Mr. Toland attributed the losses that the Web sites claimed to a tougher marketplace for small players.

Morpheus referred inquiries to Wurld Media, which operates its shopping rebates program. Kirk H. Feathers, the chief technical officer of Wurld Media, said that it had been wrongly accused of stealing and that the company would readily go to court to defend itself.

He acknowledged that an earlier version of the company's software did divert commissions away from other affiliate sites but said that new versions dealt with that situation. Now, the company said, the softwareoffers a choice to the consumer before each purchase: whether to give the commission to the affiliate or to himself in the form of a rebate, with a portion of the rebate going to Morpheus. The software does not misrepresent the user's computer to sellers' sites, Mr. Feathers said.

Arguments that the diversions are somehow the fault of an unintentional flaw do not persuade Erik Petersen, the chief technical officer at an Internet security company, Polar Cove, in Providence, R.I. Mr. Petersen said that he had received complaints about TopMoxie and LimeWire from friends and took a closer look. After conducting a detailed analysis of the software, he concluded that the TopMoxie program was intricately designed to substitute its affiliate identification code for that of other sites as transactions were made. He said that the program remained on the computer even if the user removed the original LimeWire music sharing software. "I don't buy their explanation," he said. "What kind of accident is that?"

Mr. Petersen also pointed to a statement made in an online forum where the technology was discussed, in which a LimeWire developer characterized accusations that the software diverts money as "pretty accurate," but said, "While I agree that this is really a bit of a scam, it is a way for us to pay salaries while not adversely affecting our users."

A chief executive of one software company was similarly unapologetic about the diversion of commissions. "We look at affiliates as competitors," said Avi Naider, the chief executive of WhenU.com, which makes the diversion software used by the music swapping services Kazaa and BearShare. The software, he said, provides services to users and money to each company "so it doesn't have to charge" for the currently free software and services.

The companies also argue that consumers give consent to the terms of the contract when they download the software, whether they read the agreement carefully or not. An expert in online consumer protection said the companies had a point. In the case of the LimeWire agreement, for example, "there does seem to be some indication to the user of what's going on," said David Medine, a Washington lawyer and former Federal Trade Commission official.

Mr. Medine said that he was, however, uncomfortable with the degree of disclosure. "The question is whether the quality of the notice is as good as it could be," he said. "They don't tell you that it's interfering with other business relationships."

Jeff Pullen, the president of Commission Junction, a company that helps link affiliates with Web sites, said that he was not inclined to cut off companies that divert commissions if the customer has agreed to the diversion. "The tactics that they use, maybe they're on the edge," he said. "Maybe, personally, I don't find them particularly attractive. But if they aren't illegal, it's hard for me to point to my public service agreement and say, `I have a reason to kick you off my network.' "

Still, other online merchants are taking action after being confronted by angry affiliates -- and they find that they are dealing with a moving target. TigerDirect, an online computer and electronics store, blocked Morpheus from its program earlier this year after discovering that the company was diverting online commissions. "I obviously thought it wasn't honorable," said Andy Rodriguez, the company's manager of affiliate marketing. "They said, `It's our right.' I said, `It's our right to remove you.' "

Morpheus changed its software, Mr. Rodriguez said, but a few weeks ago TigerDirect noticed that sales through Morpheus were "going through the roof" at the same time that many affiliates were complaining of a drop in commissions. So he blocked them again. "Guys at Morphus wanted a piece of the pie for each of our sales," he said. "I'm sorry. Absolutely not.

The diversion programs have made life difficult for affiliate marketers in the last year, said Steve Messer, chief executive of LinkShare, a company that runs a major affiliate network. But he sees a silver lining. "It's showed affiliate marketing has come of age," Mr. Messer said. "If you look at it, the volume of transactions passing through LinkShare's affiliate marketing got so big that when affiliates get upset, the largest merchants in the world react. If it's just a few dollars, nobody would've noticed."

LinkShare is working with other companies in their market to come up with industry standards to govern ethical practices in online advertising, Mr. Messer said. "For some people, WWW stands for the Wild, Wild West," he said. "Hopefully, that's coming to an end."

A Software Cleanup

Computer users who want to remove shopping software from their machines can do so in a few steps. Instructions for removing three of the most common programs:

BUYERSPORT - The shopping software with Morpheus:

Click the Start button.

Click on Find.

Click on Find Files or Folders.

Type in mbho.dll. Click on find now. When the file appears in the directory window, drag mbho.dll into the trash.

LIMESHOP - The software with LimeWire:

Click the Start button.

Click on Settings.

Click Control Panel.

Double-click Add/Remove Programs.

Click LimeShop.

Click Add/Remove.

SAVENOW - The software used by Kazaa:

Click on Start.

Click Settings.

Click on Control Panel.

Double-click on Add/Remove Programs.

Click SaveNow.

Click on Add/Remove