HostGator Automatically Adding Plugins to WordPress
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So – After adding the updated version of WordPress 3.0 to a few sites, I noticed a new feature to HostGator users…
WP SuperCache Plugin is automatically installed (Thats a good thing) but then I spotted this link in my footer: “WordPress Hosting”… linked back to HostGator – WTF! Talk about something I didn’t sign up for!
Turns out is is a plugin that is being automatically installed through the Fantastico system, and you need to go into your site admin > plugins > disable it!
Previously Published Articles You May Like to Read:
- Build a Niche Store Empire – Adding New Domains to your Hostgator Account
- Installing WordPress through your HostGator Account
- Adding your First Plugin to WordPress
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I have been doing my part to "Build the Internet" since 1994, when I built my first website! Since then, I have built hundreds of niche websites for myself and many others, focused on design, applications, ecommerce, search optimization and internet marketing.
Thanks for the heads up Mark.
It always amazes me the “opt out” mentality of most companies.
@Jeff – NP Jeff and thanks for the comment. The same Opt Out scenario seems to be playing out all around the web lately!
I just noticed it as well…pretty cheesy if you ask me.
Very dodgy behaviour by Hostgator!
The cheeky buggers! Thanks Mark for pointing that out.
That’s just plain rude!
Sneaky, everyone should call them out on it.
Naughty, naughty, unless of course our affiliate link can be added.
WOW. Hostgator has always been my favorite host, but this is pretty ridiculous! Adding anything to a site without the owners knowledge = HACKING!
I was wondering about that. I didn’t get the link to Hostgator because the themes I use won’t allow those kind of shenanigans. I saw the cahce plugin and just thought that maybe it was a recommended plugin from WordPress.
I prefer the W3 Total Cache plugin, so I’m going back to using that.
Thanks for the heads up!
Mark – Do you have a Hostgator reseller account? I haven’t even seen the WP 3.0 upgrade on Fantastico yet.
Hey Mark
I have a business account at Hostgator with six different domains on it and none of them have had either plugin added with the 3.0 upgrade. Curious.
@Marilla – just try install a new blog with fantastico and you’ll see a hostgator’s link in your footer blog.
@ All –
Yeah… what he said! LOL
I am seeing it on:
- Business account
- BabyCroc account
The only places its not affected me thus far is on dedicated servers and the reseller accounts…
BUT… I have not installed new sites on those yet either!
Cheeky buggers!
The way this works is: if you install WordPress through Fantastico it enables the HostGator plugin. As Mark mentioned, you can de-activate this from within your WordPress admin panel. We just added a feature so you can ‘opt out’ of this plugin while installing.
This only applies for new WordPress installations, and did not affect any previously installed blogs.
Sorry for any confusion!
@Chad Bean – Thanks for the update Chad.
Mark
This “opt-out” shows up in almost small text AFTER the installation. Even when it’s disabled, whatever change they made still leaves a new blank strip under the theme footer.
As a HostGator customer, I have to say that I don’t appreciate your self-promoting tactics. If customers are paying for your services, why should they be subject to this kind of hassle? If you offered FREE web hosting, then I could understand; it would be a trade-off just like free email accounts.
Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. all have free accounts loaded with ads and some inject ads at the bottom of each email you send out. But on Yahoo for example, once you sign up for a paid account all that goes away.
Surely you can find more constructive ways of promoting your business than this?
At a minimum, why not display some kind of disclosure above the Fantastico applications stating that some of them contain opt-out advertising features so we can decide in advance whether we want to participate or not, rather than after-the-fact?
Fortunately I don’t use Fantastico to install WordPress, and now that I know what’s going on, I don’t plan on using it any time soon. And if this kind of tactic gets worse like injecting ads into my outbound emails or something, you can bet I’ll take my business elsewhere.
Thankfully, the web hosting is very competitive. Some companies rise to the top (like HostGator), so I expect much more from you guys than this.
-Jeff
anyone else notice that they have stopped this? I have had 4 new site installs for wp 3.0 and NONE have had the hostgator plugin for the backlink.
I did see it on my first ‘updated’ site… but none of the new install have it. did they get the point with all the negative response?
@Junior – Good find Junior… its gone from my reseller, and dedi servers.
Mark
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