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19 March 2009 12:08pm
A client has asked us to run some tracking code on our website (we're a publishing company), where the client has a profile listing in a directory (much like here on econsultancy) and wants to track visitors to their profile.
Obviously it makes sense for them to be able to see exactly what happens on their profile. We on the other hand are not sure we want to be able to give away that depth of information.
Does anyone have any thoughts on hosting code you don't have any control over on your site?
Could it affect site performance?
Many thanks.
Owner at Saxon Internet
19 March 2009 16:23pm
Depends on the code they want to put on, but yes it could affect site performance, but probably only for their profile page.
More importantly it is a security risk. If they are just calling the script with a php include or SSI then what is to stop them from changing the code at some point? This effectively would mean they could put whatever code they wanted onto your site! Not good.
As a comprimise, are you able to provide them with stats on their profile page? Even if just via email initially? If not, consider adding a profile stats facility to your entire site. It's obviously a feature that your members could benefit from. You can control what info you give out and your client is happy - win/win.
CEO at Incerta Internet Advertising and Information Technologies
21 March 2009 08:35am
Hello,
Site performance will be affected according to the nature of the code they ask you to put. You should first investigate it well. Apart from site performance you should consider the security treats. Some codes can create a back door to your web site.
What my suggestion is first exam the code for security treats and then site performance.
If you need any help pls let me know.
Good Luck...
Bogac GURGUN
Incerta
Digital Marketing Strategies
p. (İstanbul) + 9 0216 414 6200 | p. (London) + 44 020 7193 3522
m. (İstanbul) + 9 0532 769 9971
e: info@incerta.com
w: http://www.incerta.com/
Director at Watson Hall Ltd
25 March 2009 12:51pm
Both the previous replies are correct - you are increasing the risk from malicious code and content. But if the profile page is on the same domain as other profiles or content, all of those will also be at risk. Your other clients may not be so happy about the change.
In summary, don't link to other people's code - do it yourself if you have to.
Colin Watson
Technical Director
Watson Hall Ltd for website security
European Web Analytics Specialist at Canon Europe
21 April 2009 11:42am
Site performance aside you should consider your position as a publisher.
By giving open access to page view data you make yourself liable to your partners/clients making judements about crude analytics that may mis-represent your site's performance.
Spoon feed them the data with dufficient explaination of what the figures actually mean.