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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.
Posted on Apr 9, 2008 at 07:34PM by Registered CommenterBilly in | Comments6 Comments

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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

Apr 10, 2008 at 12:04AM | Unregistered CommenterAli

Join the Emperor's Club. Then you will get paid to give it all away *grins* I'm feisty tonight.

Apr 10, 2008 at 12:05AM | Unregistered CommenterAli

"..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.

Apr 10, 2008 at 02:30AM | Unregistered CommenterTina

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.

Apr 10, 2008 at 05:51AM | Unregistered CommenterHeykster

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.

Apr 10, 2008 at 07:15AM | Unregistered CommenterBily The Blogging Poet

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.

Apr 12, 2008 at 01:53AM | Unregistered Commenterveronicaromm

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