# Alternative Link | 🖼 | 🖼 | | -- | -- | | ![](../image/altlink_sample.jpg) | ![](../image/altlink_suggest.jpg) | This is `opt-in` service. - Contents - [A little history](service.altlink.md#a-little-history) - [How to Subscribe](service.altlink.md#how-to-subscribe) - [How to Unsubscribe](service.altlink.md#how-to-unsubscribe) - ["Is it really CloudFlare!?" check](service.altlink.md#_is-it-really-cloudflare-_-check) - [CloudFlareTest it!](service.altlink.md#cloudflaretest-it) - [Report a problem / Create an Issue](service.altlink.md#report-a-problem-create-an-issue) - [Settings](service.altlink.md#settings) ---- ### A little history Once upon a time there was a bot named "_[CloudflareLink](https://social.privacytools.io/@cloudflarelink/with_replies)_" which was created by Anonymous. It replied to many users who shared CF links publicly. Not many people reacted it positively. Here is some of them. - [kemonine@social.holdmybeer.solutions](https://social.holdmybeer.solutions/objects/9479c5be-40df-4ecd-a3fe-0209a9020dfd) ``` To the owner of this bot You should be ashamed. Quit drive by bro'ing our statuses. Please fornicate with a pointy stick. ``` - [Sylvhem@eldritch.cafe](https://eldritch.cafe/@Sylvhem/102701484501099424) ``` Pointing to a copy rather than the original document if it's still online is bad practice too. Also, you are a very annoying bot. ``` They got annoyed and Mastodon server owner was pressured by their "spam" reports. One of Mastodon server owner once [said](../tool/mastodonwch#some-public-reaction), "_your little protest bot is making people upset, and i'm worried it might cause people to defederate from the instance, please tone it down_." For the record "_CloudflareLink_" was moved to other Mastodon servers 3 times and banned 2 times by 2 Mastodon services until the Anonymous decided to given up for good. The main difference of AltLink is `opt-in`. Those people who [share Cloudflare links casually](cloudflared/shared_mastodon.md) never receive notification until they have a good heart and follow AL. ### How to Subscribe 1. Follow [Alternative Link (AL)](https://mamot.fr/@altlink). - Some instances such as [mastodon.social](https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/16480) are blocking altlink. | 🖼 | 🖼 | | -- | -- | | ![](../image/ban_altlink_mastodon.social.jpg) | ![](../image/ban_altlink_eldritch.cafe.jpg) | 2. AL will follow back you **within an hour**. - If you're locking your account, please accept AL's follow request otherwise AL can't read your toots. - **If** there is a network instability and AL failed to follow back you **after 1 hour**: - Please `unfollow`, `wait 1 hour`, and `follow` again. 3. When you share Cloudflared link, AL will send `direct` message to you with information. - Direct messages older than *24* hours will be deleted. - There is no good reason to keep old toots online. - [Should I Delete My Tweets?](https://www.wired.com/story/the-know-it-alls-should-i-delete-my-tweets/) ### How to Unsubscribe 1. Just `unfollow` AL's account **on your side**. - **AL will unfollow you within an hour**. - AL do not attempt to re-follow you. - If you've changed your mind and want to subscribe(opt-in) again, `unblock`, `unfollow` AL and `follow` again. ### "_Is it really CloudFlare!?_" check Just send `domain name` or `URL` as `direct message` and AL will answer within 1 minute. Here's an example. ``` @altlink blog.emsisoft.com ``` You can also query multiple at once / mix domain and URLs ``` @altlink en.wikipedia.org https://blog.emsisoft.com/wow/ www.wikimedia.org ``` ### CloudFlareTest it! You can call AltLink into your **public** discussion to check above user's URL. All you have to do is hit `Reply` button and add the word `cloudflaretest` (case does not matter) - AL will answer within 1 minute. - To prevent abuse you can call AL only once per minute. Here's an example. mad_dog wrote: ``` Check my new blog! https://oh.my.god/ ``` you reply: ``` Hey @mad_dog, your blog need to do cloudflareTest. ``` ### Report a problem / Create an Issue You can create an Issue without git account. Just send a **direct** message. And don't worry, - Multiple mentions (e.g. `@randomUser @altlink @otherUser blah blah blah`) - _Public_ message (e.g. `there's a bot called @altlink`) ...will be ignored to prevent spam. Your username part (before `@`) will be masked to protect your privacy. ### Settings You can configure AL via `direct message`. - 1: Do not message me same domain again for a day. - Default is `off`. - By default AL will notify you each time when you share _inaccessible_ link. Turning this settings _on_ will silence second post for 24 hours. - 2: Suggest other non-Cloudflare alternative sites _when available_. - Default is `off`. - If you turn _on_ this settings AL will help you find alternative better links for your normal toots. - Let's say you boost or post Cloudflared news site. AL will suggest some similar websites related to your URL within 1 minute. Note that AL might suggest inaccurate result. - AL will not suggest anything if your account is `Bot`. - Rate-Limit: AL will suggest `only once per 1 minute`. - 3: Count my links and send me report monthly. - Default is `off`. - If you turn _on_ this settings AL will simply count how many links you shared publicly and how many were Cloudflared. Note that this count will have duplicates because we **never** save (& don't care) what you shared. - AL will not send a report if you did not post any links (share 0 links) for a month. (e.g. you have returned to Twitter and stopped using Mastodon) - If you change this settings _or_ each month has passed counter will reset to 0. - 4: Set my preferred language to ??. - Default is _unset_. - AL will use language based on your toot. - If you tell AL your language, AL will speak your language. - Need other language? Create an issue. - 6: Ignore boosted toots. - Default is `off`. - By default AL will notify you when you boost(retweet) other user's post which has Cloudflare link. - 7: Use alternative provider. - Default is `off`. - If you turn _on_ this settings AL will use [IAList](README.md) service. - 8: Notify me if the link is known [Anti-Tor](../anti-tor_users/domains) link. - Default is `off`. - If you turn _on_ this settings AL will notify you when you share links that block Tor users. - "_Hey website.com why are you blocking Tor!?_" ``` set N V ``` - N is above numbers. - V is value. - for number 1 to 3, 6 to 8: - _one of_: `yes` `no` `true` `false` `on` `off` - for number 4: - _one of_: `cc` (2 letter. see [/README.md](../README.md)) - e.g. `es Español` -> `es` - [**Improve translation**](../tool/trans.altlink.txt) - You can mix uppercase if you want. - `sEt 1 TRuE` is same as `set 1 true` Here's an example. - Speak Русский. Monthly Report please. ``` @altlink set 4 ru set 3 on ``` --- - Mastodon servers are controlled by third party. - Let us know if above account is censored by aggressive Cloudflare supporters. - ↳ [Altlink IRC Service](service.altlink_irc.md) - ↳ ["Cloudflare, we have a problem" Mastodon](people.mastodon.md) - ↳ [How many % of public Fediverse services are using Cloudflare?](cloudflared/fediverse.md) - ↳ [How many % of links people publicly shared on Mastodon are using Cloudflare?](cloudflared/shared_mastodon.md)