What is this link? - Found in my Code

**TravG** · 20 May 2015, 1:24 am

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="https://gmpg.org/xfn/11"/>

Thanks

**wonderpunter** · 20 May 2015, 2:02 am

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

**wettFORM.AT** · 20 May 2015, 2:12 am

I have never seen such a link before

**DaftDog** · 20 May 2015, 6:50 am

Freebie themes can hold some very shady stuff.

**Triple7** · 20 May 2015, 7:11 am

Originally Posted by DaftDog

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** · 21 May 2015, 3:13 pm

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 xxhttps://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** · 21 May 2015, 4:36 pm

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** · 21 May 2015, 6:11 pm

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** · 21 May 2015, 7:03 pm

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

**TravG** · 21 May 2015, 8:23 pm

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** · 22 May 2015, 10:17 am

I can't understand what is the theme creators benefit when they insert links like that or this one <html dir="ltr" xmlns="https://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** · 24 May 2015, 6:13 pm

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

**xecutable** · 24 May 2015, 6:26 pm

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** · 25 May 2015, 8:35 pm

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"
https://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** · 26 May 2015, 12:32 am

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: https://microformats.org/wiki/rel-profile . Indeed it doesn't validate, but even if it did, it's still useless.

**universal4** · 26 May 2015, 7:21 pm

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** · 26 May 2015, 10:20 pm

Originally Posted by universal4

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** · 27 May 2015, 5:01 pm

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

Thread: What is this link? - Found in my Code

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Display

What is this link? - Found in my Code

The Following User Says Thank You to DaftDog For This Useful Post:

Posting Permissions