# Changing links? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 23, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555 "2015-10-23T17:19:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/41 "2015-10-23T22:45:53Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > This post wasn’t there when I posted! > > OK, so it’s not me. That’s a relief. > > I’m afraid a few hours ago I sent a nastygram to Wal-Mart’s affiliate program contact saying that the [copied] link was an affiliate using malware to hijack computers. I’d send them a followup email saying it appears to be Viglink instead. I hate to say it, but I honestly think Viglink is rather shady. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/42 "2015-10-23T22:48:30Z")
[Here’s a forum](http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=424422) that had the same problem (Amazon to Walmart) in March. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/43 "2015-10-24T00:03:45Z")
You can disable VigLink from running on your computer. Go to [Privacy Center - Sovrn, Inc.](http://www.viglink.com/opt-out/) and click “Disable” and VigLink won’t run when you click on a link. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/44 "2015-10-24T00:31:40Z")
Just checking in on IPad Safari: the ol’ flash the Amazon deal the Walmart also. So what do I lose by disabling VigLink? Ie, why do I let it futz with me anyway? ETA: I’ll now find out… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/45 "2015-10-24T00:55:56Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > You can disable VigLink from running on your computer. Go to [http://www.viglink.com/opt-out/](http://www.viglink.com/opt-out/) and click “Disable” and VigLink won’t run when you click on a link. Problem solved. I don’t think having to rely on a website I didn’t want anyway is right. Safari should have a means of blocking anything I want. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/46 "2015-10-24T01:13:53Z")
It goes to Amazon for me. I’m using Firefox with the Ghostery extension, which blocks trackers. I can click on an icon and see what trackers it’s blocking for whatever site I’m on. Sure enough, one of the things it’s currently blocking is Vigilink. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/47 "2015-10-24T01:16:04Z")
Um… **tooldtocare** , are you in the wrong thread? ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/48 "2015-10-24T01:50:09Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > You can disable VigLink from running on your computer. Go to [http://www.viglink.com/opt-out/](http://www.viglink.com/opt-out/) and click “Disable” and VigLink won’t run when you click on a link. You can also [use a custom HOSTS file](http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm) to block them entirely. Possibly more useful than hoping they will always respect your opt out requests. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/49 "2015-10-24T02:03:55Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > You can also [use a custom HOSTS file](http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm) to block them entirely. Possibly more useful than hoping they will always respect your opt out requests. All well and good for a computer. There’s really no alternative if you’re browsing on a phone or a pad. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/50 "2015-10-24T02:20:15Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Um… **tooldtocare** , are you in the wrong thread? I think he’s explaining why a select few users are chosen to get their Amazon links re-directed to Wal-Mart, according to the KJV (King James Viglink) scriptures. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/51 "2015-10-24T02:21:22Z")
> [@Why \[were the Jews\] chosen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-jews-chosen/735595/1): > > (Deu 7:6 KJV) _For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth._ > > [snipped] > > God chose them to show us the way. By example, by following His Commandments and expressing the love for the stranger as we all should love our neighbors. It is spelled out in scripture, all you have to do is read it and do it and then it will be done. > > (Lev 19:34 KJV) But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God > > They were chosen to show us the way, to show us how to treat the stranger, how to be compassionate and loving to your neighbor and by doing so peace would envelope the world. > > 51st correction-- 09/15/15 > The author of universalknowledge has made 51 corrections ; additions and changes > 12/41am 09/15/15 Oddly, this took me to Walmart, too ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/52 "2015-10-24T02:22:40Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > Oddly, this took me to Walmart, too Ninjad by less than a minute… ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/53 "2015-10-24T08:27:26Z")
Redirecting to walmart for me too. If you let some dodgy link-molesting software dork with the links on your pages, it’s only a matter of time until it starts changing your links in a way you don’t like. Ditch viglink. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/54 "2015-10-24T12:19:57Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > Oddly, this took me to Walmart, too All roads lead to Wal-mart. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/55 "2015-10-24T13:04:23Z")
Post #46 reported. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/56 "2015-10-24T13:08:51Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Post #46 reported. It’s pretty obvious that post 46 was meant to go somewhere else. Since I have no idea where though, I don’t know where to put it. Since you guys are having a bit of fun with it, I guess it can stay here. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/57 "2015-10-24T13:15:26Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > **Moderator Note** > > It’s pretty obvious that post 46 was meant to go somewhere else. Since I have no idea where though, I don’t know where to put it. Since you guys are having a bit of fun with it, I guess it can stay here. Looks like what was supposed to be a new thread. > **[Why \[were the Jews\] chosen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=773121)** > > (Deu 7:6 KJV) For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. (Deu 7:7 KJV) The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor... ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/58 "2015-10-24T14:16:33Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > **Moderator Note** > > It’s pretty obvious that post 46 was meant to go somewhere else. Since I have no idea where though, I don’t know where to put it. Since you guys are having a bit of fun with it, I guess it can stay here. I see that now. I didn’t see it as a link. Color me whooshed. :o ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/59 "2015-10-24T15:00:18Z")
I would very strongly recommend against using Viglink’s opt-out page. Opt-out links are only useful when coming from ethical companies, which Viglink has proven itself not to be. If they’ll do sleazy stuff with their primary service, then they’ll do sleazy stuff with their opt-out, too. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555/60 "2015-10-24T15:40:48Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I would very strongly recommend against using Viglink’s opt-out page. Opt-out links are only useful when coming from ethical companies, which Viglink has proven itself not to be. If they’ll do sleazy stuff with their primary service, then they’ll do sleazy stuff with their opt-out, too. Whoah. Now I’m paranoid about being paranoid. Still haven’t spent time on the net now that I’ve opted out. So still waiting to see what happens. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-links/735555.md?page=4)