Hacking Issuu.com
I got an e-mail from a friend today asking me to join Issuu.com so I decided to check it out.
Issuu is another Web 2.0 "social networking" site hell bent on making a fortune off the creative works of "members" (and their personal information) without paying out a dime to those who create those works but Issuu has a more immediate issue to deal with-- an issue I'm going to explain how to hack your way around.
You see, Issuu is another of those sites who want all your e-mail addresses so they can e-mail your friends "for you."
It was at that point that I almost didn't finish the sign-up process but as this chic is really, really hot and really, really smart-- 2 qualities I love to see in women-- I felt driven to follow through. Yes, even at 51 men are sometimes motivated by... But I said she's really, really smart.
Anyway, as a lot of my three or four thousand e-mail contacts are folks I deal with on a professional or political level I didn't want to give Issuu anything that might force an issue and because Issuu's sign-up process gives you no way to opt-out of giving them your entire address book I decided to see if I could work around it.
It was really too simple to hack Issuu and thwart their information retrieval plot. Instead of giving up my address book I simply went to the Issuu home page and logged-in using the user name and password I had entered in the aborted sign-up process.
Then I went to my Issuu friends page and deleted Issuu as a friend while keeping my hot friend.
My next move will be to turn Issuu to a tool I can use to promote myself and others without giving Issuu my creative works and personal information. You see, believe it or not I get paid for this stuff but I don't get paid enough to give it all away.
Issuu is another Web 2.0 "social networking" site hell bent on making a fortune off the creative works of "members" (and their personal information) without paying out a dime to those who create those works but Issuu has a more immediate issue to deal with-- an issue I'm going to explain how to hack your way around.
You see, Issuu is another of those sites who want all your e-mail addresses so they can e-mail your friends "for you."
It was at that point that I almost didn't finish the sign-up process but as this chic is really, really hot and really, really smart-- 2 qualities I love to see in women-- I felt driven to follow through. Yes, even at 51 men are sometimes motivated by... But I said she's really, really smart.
Anyway, as a lot of my three or four thousand e-mail contacts are folks I deal with on a professional or political level I didn't want to give Issuu anything that might force an issue and because Issuu's sign-up process gives you no way to opt-out of giving them your entire address book I decided to see if I could work around it.
It was really too simple to hack Issuu and thwart their information retrieval plot. Instead of giving up my address book I simply went to the Issuu home page and logged-in using the user name and password I had entered in the aborted sign-up process.
Then I went to my Issuu friends page and deleted Issuu as a friend while keeping my hot friend.
My next move will be to turn Issuu to a tool I can use to promote myself and others without giving Issuu my creative works and personal information. You see, believe it or not I get paid for this stuff but I don't get paid enough to give it all away.









Reader Comments (6)
Hehe you and your women, Billy. I've been browsing for awhile now. I'm glad I stopped by. You always have kind things to say about this family of poets. I've linked to some wonderful writers thanks to you. I have more to send to you too! I posted a comment on a few entries ago --- forigve me for not seeing it earlier. You are a southern gentleman :-) Ali
Join the Emperor's Club. Then you will get paid to give it all away *grins* I'm feisty tonight.
"..and because Issuu's sign-up process gives you no way to opt-out of giving them your entire address book.."
There's another hack called, simply press the skip button! I just signed up, and it's there on all the sign up pages.
Editor: Just so everyone will know, Issuu.com is registered to Ripplr ApS
Amaliegade 14A, Copenhagen, DK 1256, DK and "Tina's" IP Address is: port983.ds1-noe.adsl.cybercity.dk/212.242.132.108 Notice both are from Denmark. Typical damage control.
Err, maybe at the age of 51 you start seeing 'information retrieval plots' everywhere. As Tina said, you can SKIP the 'evil' email import - as I see it's there just to help you find friends on Issue. I know for a fact that technology like Issue's cost at least 200$ and they're giving it away free. It's hard for me to feel ripped off that way...
Editor: Just so everyone will know, Issuu.com is registered to Ripplr ApS
Amaliegade 14A, Copenhagen, DK 1256, DK and "Heykster's" IP Address is: 0x573c3a0a.bynqu1.broadband.tele.dk/87.60.58.10 Notice both are from Denmark. Typical damage control.
Ali,
Love you always... I'm a looser with women and everyone knows it but I still love you all.
Tina,
There was no skip button when I signed up-- perhaps they overlooked a browser or platform issue as is often the case.
Freedom,
You're a spammer so I'm deleting your comment.
Heykster,
Perhaps you need to understand that no one spends 200K without a means of making it back 100 fold. Since Issuu has no advertising then information is the only thing they have to sell.
I am so not offended because I also thought I hit the skip button and find that I have bombed my contacts. So I apologize and think you way cool.