Plugins that sneak links

[HealthyBlogger]

I am not one to not want to reward plugin authors for their ongoing work, in fact I have donated moolah to several plugin authors. However, I've noticed an increasing trend of sneaking links. When updating a few plugins recently, I noticed they inserted links in my blogroll or appended an ugly link to the foot of the page without warning. Is this fair play?

[SubmitMyBlog]

I think that is very shady and unless they say something upfront that is just wrong. What plugins? let us know so we can all be vigilent...

[bbrian017]

no kidding this is retarded!

[rjleaman]

I'm another one who would be extremely interested in knowing what plugins are inserting unwanted, un-asked-for links in your blog. Can you fill us in, please?

[HealthyBlogger]

Erm...

WP-Auto-Tagger seems to insert a link in the blogroll category

Here's the code from the activcate routine:

        if($wpdb->get_var("SELECT COUNT(link_id) FROM $wpdb->links WHERE link_url='ht tp://wordpresssupplies. com/'")==0)
                wp_insert_link(array('link_name' => 'Wordpress Themes', 'link_url' => 'ht tp://wordpresssupplies. com/', 'link_description' => 'Download Free Wordpress Themes and Plugins' ));
}

Recently upgraded Platinum SEO Pack and it now appends a link to the end of the HTML output (this can be turned off in the settings but is 'on' by default)

There are more that do this sort of thing. Not making a big deal of it, but you might like to keep half an eye on plugin upgrades...

[Nathan]

Yeah, I almost never use a plugin if it has a link associated it with it. In a way it makes sense because the author wants to be rewarded in some way, but those links can be bad for your own SEO.

[developerholic]

We are using their plugins so I guess it is. Just like when you use some wordpress themes. But it would be nice if they have an option wherein you pay them some money and their links would be removed.

[Stu--]

I think it's shady. I mean, where would it end? I have about 20 plugins, I don't want my whole site covered in inappropriate links.

[Modified Cars]

I'd dump those plugins in a heart beat, especially if it's not linking back to the plugin site but to some random site.

[stevetrang]

I noticed that the new platinum seo pack added a link. I turned it off immediately, but if I wasn't able to, it would have been uninstalled immediately. By the way, many pay themes have link backs to the designer.