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Posted by rf on 08/22/07 06:20
"Sanders Kaufman" <bucky@kaufman.net> wrote in message
news:x7Pyi.10838$3x.6002@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net...
> Jerry Stuckle wrote:
>
>
>> Short answer - you can't. You can tell when someone logged on, but not
>> if they're still on the site.
>
>
> Actually, you can. It' called a "beacon" and hackers use it all the time.
Actually you can't. Even if you use this "beacon" approach you can not tell
if the user has simply ducked down to the pub for a pint or two. Or do you
consider somebody "logged on" even if they are a couple of miles from their
computer?
And if they are looking at your competitors web site on another tab. Are
they still "logged on"?.
And what about those who have javascript disabled. Your "beacon" misses this
10% right up front.
> The problem is that your more tech-savvy users will see it, and get real
> pissed off. Most folks don't like for you to *monitor* their activity -
> even if you feel that your motives are benign.
If I saw my network light flashing at regular intervals I would declare the
site broken and leave instantly. If I were "required" to use the site I
would complain to those who administer it.
> There are a number of ways to do it, but the best one seems to be to
> simply have a client-side script that sends a URL request every so often
> to refresh an image (visible or not, but preferably visible - to calm
> techie nerves). For example:
>
> if (sTime > (sNow+15)){
> MyImage.src = "myimage.php?" + sTime + "&" + sToken;
> }
>
> Then, have the PHP file generate the image and log the request.
--
Richard.
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