Configuring Firewall for hotlinking?

[A1ecto]

Recently I've stumbled across a bunch of websites that have hotlink protection enabled. Because of this, I cannot see any of the images on the sites. Little red X's get on my nerves, and I don't want to turn off my firewall just to see the caps.

Does anyone know a quick and easy way to configure the Norton Internet Security firewall to be able to see hotlink-protected sites?

[Lesa]

I'm not sure I understand your question. Hotlinking protection is to keep people from stealing someone's bandwidth by linking to their images on unauthorized sites. This way, if you want to see their image, you have to go to their website to see them, and no firewall settings can change that.

Bandwidth can be quite costly, so even without hotlinking protection, we don't want people hotlinking to pictures without the site owner's permission anyway.

[A1ecto]

Oh. I know what hotlinking is. lol Let me try to explain that better.

The thing is, the people who use hotlinking protection on their sites, I can't see the images on their sites.

For example :

xwponline.net/
www.landofdreams.net/xena/

I can't see any images on either site.

The first one, I get Jenn's hotlinking image on everything.
The second one I get X's since Ariane hasn't set up a default image like Jenn's.

[Lesa]

Ok, now I gotcha. Without knowing exactly how Jenn and Ariane have set up their htaccess files, it sounds like that they have them set up to block blank referrers.

Set up your firewall to allow those two domains to receive your referrer information, and see if that works.

Instructions for Norton

[A1ecto]

I'll try that tonight! Thanks Le!

[Lesa]

You're welcome, A1ecto! Let me know if it works.

[A1ecto]

Can I give you a hug? lol

Thank you thank you thank you!

Sad to think that it only took one click. lol!

[Lesa]

You're welcome, A1ecto!

Yes, you can give me a hug.

I'm glad it worked!