CMP Masker

This signed Applet will produce PNG files (variable transparency background image files similar to GIFs, but smaller) that contain your email address. When you post them on your website, it is harder for spammer to harvest them.

This Applet requires one of the following up-to-date browsers:

	Click the corresponding browser icon to download the latest browser software
	Opera 7.5 with the Java 1.4.2_04 Plug-in
	Mozilla 1.6 with the Java 1.4.2_04 Plug-in
	Netscape 7.1 with the Java 1.4.2_04 Plug-in
	Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.2800 with the Java 1.4.2_04 Plug-in
	Sun's Java 1.4.2_04 Plug-in add on

java-version

You need Java to run the Masker applet.

You should be able to run this signed Java Web Start weblet just by clicking OK to accept the certificate, but if you have trouble, you may have to install my code signing certificate in your cacerts certificate repository. To do this just click install and follow your nose. If that does not work, you can install it manually:

Download my X.509 RSA certificate mindprodcert.cer.
Then import it into you cacerts files with the following commands:
view
The password is changeit.
Restart your browser and try the Masker Java WebStart again.
If the download fails, install Masker manually by starting Java Web Start (javaws.exe) and entering
http://mindprod.com/masker.jnlp
into the JWS location: box.
You can also modify your policy file to give automatic permission.

Using the Generated PNG Images

You can include the generated PNG image files in the HTML on your website with: code like this:

<a href="images/mailtoroedy.png">email me</a>

which will look like this:

email me

or you can include them like this:

<table class="borderless">
<tr>
<td>email me:</td>
<td><img src="images/mailtoroedy.png" height="24" width="179" alt="my email address"></td>
</tr>
</table>

Which will look like this:

email me:

or like this, since image background is transparent:

email me:

You can also mention your email address in public postings like this:

For my email address see http://mindprod.com/images/mailtoroedy.png

It can be read by humans, but it would be more difficult for automation to harvest the name for spam lists.

If you don't like the font, size or colour, download Masker and modify the configuration constants.

Some old browsers do not support *.png files. You can convert the file from *.png to *.gif format with a paint program such as Paint Shop Pro. This is tricky since png supports variable transparency.

Extra security

Name your *.png file something that gives no hint of the fact it contains an email address.

Name your *.png file something completely unlike your actual email address.

Don't give any clues to your actual email address in the alt parameter. You might instead give a phone number for the blind.

Don't put text nearby that hints this is an email address. Just leave it bald with the @ in the graphic as the only clue.

If you have a programmable webserver, (e.g. a Servlet womb), never post your email address, even with Masker. Instead, make people fill in an HTML FORM to send you the initial contact email.

home

Canadian Mind Products

mindprod.com IP:[24.87.56.253]

Your IP:[80.134.30.163]

You are visitor number 312.

Please send errors, omissions and suggestions

to improve this page to Roedy Green.

You can get a fresh copy of this page from:

or possibly from your local J: drive mirror:

http://mindprod.com/masker.html

J:\mindprod\masker.html