# VigLink changing link destinations **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 29, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viglink-changing-link-destinations/747540 "2016-02-29T18:45:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viglink-changing-link-destinations/747540/1 "2016-02-29T18:45:28Z")
Thread: > **[Please check my new PC build](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=785031)** > > Hello. My current computer is a little antiquated, so I am planning a new build. I have built my last 2 systems, so I know how to do it, but I’d like some input. I currently only play Civ V (which my current system barely runs), but that could... I posted a link to a newegg product page for a processor and VigLink is changing it to a best buy page for Windows 10. Here’s the HTML that comes back from the server: ```auto It's also 40% better. I think you'd be better off going with a core i3-6100 and dumping the savings into the GPU. It's only a dual core vs a quad core, but there are only a handful of tasks that benefit from having four cores.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2MN-0004-00002 ``` As you can see, the link is to newegg. After some javascript runs it then switches it to a link to best buy. ---
**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:** [February 29, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viglink-changing-link-destinations/747540/2 "2016-02-29T20:31:23Z")
It’s a known issue. We get a post about it here in ATMB every month or two. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viglink-changing-link-destinations/747540/3 "2016-02-29T20:49:18Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > It’s a known issue. We get a post about it here in ATMB every month or two. I think you might have missed this part: > [@](#): > > I posted a link to a newegg product page for a processor and VigLink is **changing it to a best buy page** for Windows 10. My understanding of VigLink is that it’s supposed to capture links to some businesses so that the SDMB can get a small commission from whatever sales ensue. Redirecting links to different businesses seems like it’s either a mistake or far more intrusive behavior than before. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viglink-changing-link-destinations/747540/4 "2016-02-29T20:56:31Z")
How much do I have to pay for the privilege of changing the links of other posters without their permission? ---
**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:** [February 29, 2016, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viglink-changing-link-destinations/747540/5 "2016-02-29T20:57:03Z")
Using a URL shortener would probably prevent this. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viglink-changing-link-destinations/747540/6 "2016-02-29T20:58:53Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Using a URL shortener would probably prevent this. Telling them to stop it will do the same. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viglink-changing-link-destinations/747540/7 "2016-02-29T21:04:07Z")
Using [Chrome](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/adblock-plus/cfhdojbkjhnklbpkdaibdccddilifddb?hl=en-US) or [Firefox](https://adblockplus.org/) with an ad blocker addon solves this issue. Also available for [Android](https://adblockplus.org/android-install) and [iOS](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/adblocker-browser-chromecast/id537774578?mt=8). You don’t even have to be a Charter Member to take advantage. ---
**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:** [February 29, 2016, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viglink-changing-link-destinations/747540/8 "2016-02-29T21:18:41Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > My understanding of VigLink is that it’s supposed to capture links to some businesses so that the SDMB can get a small commission from whatever sales ensue. Redirecting links to different businesses seems like it’s either a mistake or far more intrusive behavior than before. Originally, Viglink just counted clicks and the SDMB got paid some small amount per click. Viglink no longer works that way. The way it currently operates, it will not only count clicks, but it will sometimes create links where none existed, and it will change links to point to one of their sponsor’s links. I didn’t have any problem with its original behavior (hey, the folks in charge here have to make some money off of us somehow). Personally (and just to be clear I’m not speaking for the SDMB here), its current behavior makes me classify it as malware. A script blocker will kill it, as will adding [viglink.com](http://viglink.com) to your spam or ad filter.