The External Links Issue in Shizam's Slideshow

BELphotos

The recent security changes implemented here at SmugMug are clearly well intentioned and from a laymans perspective, seem to be doing the job intended. However, haven't we opened up another can of worms in the process?

The security changes have probably forced everyone who was using the old slideshow to upgrade to the more streamlined, faster and advanced slideshow. This a plus, faster is always better in computing.

One of the caveats of using the new slideshow is to make 'external links' available in your custom settings. For Pro users this could be a serious problem.

In the HELP section of SmugMug (http://www.smugmug.com/help/protecting-images), it is recommended for Pro Account holders to further protect their images from being posted for free all over the Internet [paraphrased here], you should enable external link restrictions. The text from HELP is stated below.

"Blocking external links: Don't want someone embedding your photo in a forum post? You can block that in customize gallery, but note that many a person has forgotten they've done so and wondered why their own photos don't appear in the forum posts they create."

"Right Click Protection -> Gotcha: SmugMug's right-click protection does not protect an image in a forum or blog post. To keep your images out of forums and blogs, block external links (see below)."

Is anyone addressing this issue? Are there workarounds to prevent the unscrupulous from grabbing your photos?

Andy

BELphotos wrote:

The recent security changes implemented here at SmugMug are clearly well intentioned and from a laymans perspective, seem to be doing the job intended. However, haven't we opened up another can of worms in the process?

The security changes have probably forced everyone who was using the old slideshow to upgrade to the more streamlined, faster and advanced slideshow. This a plus, faster is always better in computing.

One of the caveats of using the new slideshow is to make 'external links' available in your custom settings. For Pro users this could be a serious problem.

In the HELP section of SmugMug (http://www.smugmug.com/help/protecting-images), it is recommended for Pro Account holders to further protect their images from being posted for free all over the Internet [paraphrased here], you should enable external link restrictions. The text from HELP is stated below.

"Blocking external links: Don't want someone embedding your photo in a forum post? You can block that in customize gallery, but note that many a person has forgotten they've done so and wondered why their own photos don't appear in the forum posts they create."

"Right Click Protection -> Gotcha: SmugMug's right-click protection does not protect an image in a forum or blog post. To keep your images out of forums and blogs, block external links (see below)."

Is anyone addressing this issue? Are there workarounds to prevent the unscrupulous from grabbing your photos?

Make some small versions of your photo? Watermark them? 'Tis a cake-and-eat-it-too situation, I'm afraid.