What is this link? - Found in my Code

[TravG]

I found this link in my one website where I am using a particular theme. It does not appear in other sites that do not use that theme so I am assuming the authors snuck it in there. I was going to delete it but just wanted to make sure I do not need it and/or wondering if someone could explain what exactly it is/means.

Here is the link: <link rel="profile" href="http://gmpg.org/xfn/11"/>

Thanks

[wonderpunter]

Its just a link, did deep into your site you will probably find a lot more hidden.. are you using wordpress?

[wettFORM.AT]

I have never seen such a link before

[DaftDog]

Freebie themes can hold some very shady stuff.

[Triple7]

Freebie themes can hold some very shady stuff.

Freebie plugins too. They're free for something...

Developping a plugin and/or theme, giving support, updating everything is not possible for free. The money must come from somewhere...

[universal4]

Travis did you get a theme or plugin from Global Multimedia Protocols Group?

Or did any of your plugins come from XFN or their network? I see a number of tools listed at xxhttp://gmpg.org/xfn/tools

The disgusting part is that this was likely NOT disclosed anywhere that there would be live links placed without your knowledge.

Rick
Universal4

[vardan]

I've found the same code in my wordpress site too.
If I am not wrong, it is not dangerous link and you can remove it from the head (I've already removed it).

[xecutable]

This is directly taken from the Wordpress Forums:

"That is telling the browser that your site supports XFN.
And yes, it is safe to remove it, although it doesn't hurt to leave it."

[sweetbet]

I usually don't remove them IF they are harmless links that are referencing a site where a code was taken from.

[TravG]

Ok thanks everyone. I am going to remove it and no Rick it wasn't mentioned anywhere that there would be links in the code unless I missed that statement somewhere.

So these links would be passing authority just like a normal link would correct? That is kinda BS they slip it in there and that link has been there for years I guess, since I started to use that theme anyway.

Thanks again!

[vardan]

I can't understand what is the theme creators benefit when they insert links like that or this one <html dir="ltr" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
I am a little confused, may be these links serve for something, or it is mandatory for them to mention the sources of some kind of info or tools?
BTW, my site's theme creators don't have "strange" links in the header of their own website.

[casinoaa]

Don' t use free plugins if you are not sure they are safe... unistall

[xecutable]

Didn't anyone read what I wrote? Its purpose is to tell the browser it supports XFN. Any further discussion about being a malicious link or trying to take advantage of your site is a total nonsense.

[universal4]

X, if that is the case, why is it an href and not a doctype or something similar?

It's not that I do not believe the statement, but it is confusing to form it as an href....which google sees as a followed link.

Looking at the explanation at stackoverflow....t seems to me using that link give a vote of confidence to a specific "friends network"
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1...profile-is-for

https://wordpress.org/support/topic/...tpgmpgorgxfn11

I have seen a few complaining that it does not validate properly, but have not verified that.

It seems to be more of a dead almost unused concept....

Rick
Universal4

[xecutable]

It is a dead concept for sure It's being quoted I guess exactly as shown on 'rel profile' microformat page, in fact they have used this exact link as an example: http://microformats.org/wiki/rel-profile . Indeed it doesn't validate, but even if it did, it's still useless.

[universal4]

Thanks for the input on this, so I guess we can assume it may not be completely harmful, but removing it is not harmful either since it is one less outgoing link too.

Rick
Universal4

[TravG]

but removing it is not harmful either since it is one less outgoing link too.

Rick
Universal4

That is my thinking. Regardless whether it is a good site it is linking to or not, one less link is good by me

[hotfreebingo]

You have to be careful with installing free plugins, they are free for a reason.