I just happened to notice the following script inserted into all my websites online page sources:
— Hosting24 Analytics Code —
script type=text/javascript src=http://stats.hosting24.com/count.php
— End Of Analytics Code (symbols removed).
I looked up hosting24 and its some hosting service which I never have even used before.. I’ve used only the free 000webhost for years on several sites, originally I just intended to use it for some rough drafts but so far have not noticed any reason to switch to a paid hosting service.
Anyway, after a little digging I found that 000webhost (who obviously must be associated with hosting24) inserts this hidden code as a means of determining if the website gets any activity or not, and if it doesn’t then they apparently will remove it from their servers.
It doesn’t particularly bother me, as it’s the only thing they insert into my website (I’ve looked to make sure!) nor do I have any direct access to those stats of that code (I use something else for stats), but “What is the heck is that?!!” it did surprise me..
I suspect I must have “read” it in their terms of service when I originally signed up with them, but I don’t recall.
I see no harm in that inserted code, and have noticed no ill effects or pop-ups from it, so it’s not going to influence me to quit using them or anything.. but, well, it just took me by surprise to see something in my html pages that I did not put there.
I’m not sure why I’m posting about it here!
I just found it curious.
Similar Story
It is disturbing to find code added to web pages which you think are yours.
I have a paid web host, but I code my own pages with html so I often look at the code portion, and one day I found every page had a huge chunk of strange code added, with no clue as to what it was for or who had planted it.
The “service” person was of little help, simply saying he didn’t know what it was.
I removed it, and someday may have it analyzed by a computer person if I meet one.
I am sure that many other things are being done which we never see a trace of, so at most these experiences make nice stories.
I just don’t like hosting
I just don’t like hosting sites – they can do things to your web pages that you may not like. Plus you pay, big time.
I host my own website (when it’s up, right now it’s not, my choice) – I have a business account with my ISP that doesn’t cost me any more than a residential account (and less than some of them) – that allows me to run a server. The extra costs are a static IP ($10 a month), DNS Services ($20 per year, or less than $2 per month) and, of course, the computer to run the server on (I use Windows 2000 with IIS, it’s fast and stable).
The downsides – you have to have the knowledge to run a server, particularly in the area of security. And you don’t have the bandwidth of the large hosting sites – depending on the business package, I’m limited to maximum 125 listeners. But it works for me (I’ve only approached that maximum on a few, very special occasions).