Hide Login from visitors but still available

[stormtigers]

I have searched a bit for this and can;t quite find the right answer.
When I put a website online I don't really want the word Login to appear.
Now that's easy to hide it by removing the php command to do the login.
But I still need it to be available if I am asked to change or fix something remotely !

Any suggestions ideas or knoledge on how to do this ?

Thanks

[Tata]

1. remove the function call from the template:

Code: Select all

<?php echo loginlink();?>

2. Call the login by the url: http://www.yourdomain.xyz/?&login

[stormtigers]

Excellent Tata - I thought it would be something simple but I was not certain.
Many thanks for taking the time to provide the answer !

[svasti]

Hi stormtigers,

this is my solution to the problem: if the user goes with the cursor to the left upper corner, where nothing special is visible, the word "login" will pop up in red. A normal visitor will not suspect this and won't use it:

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.login, .login a {
    position:absolute;
    left:0;
    top:0;
    color:#eee;/*use the background color. color:transparent; doesn't work in IE8*/
}
.login a:hover  {
    color:red;
}

and in the template

Code: Select all

<!--Login-->
<p class="login"><?php echo loginlink();?></p>


The color of the word "login" is a little problem, if you have an image. A solution is changing in language config the word "login" to "     " and use this css:

Code: Select all

.login, .login a {
    position:absolute;
    left:0;
    top:0;
    text-decoration: none;
}
.login a:hover  {
    background:red;
}

Now the user will get a red square with mouse over in the left corner.

svasti

[Tata]

I think this solution is only working while an entirely lama user visits the website. In almost each browser one can see the page source and look for "login". Those familiar with CMSimple of any version know how to call functions from URL. But, yes, this way it can be hidden at least from first look.
The safest way would be renaming the login function to something very special. But I am not sure if this would't conflict with other functions or plugins.
Anyway, the "login" is a function and function must be called to act. So it is possible to make it invisible (simply removing the function call from template). It is almost impossible to make it inaccessible definitely.

[cmb]

Hi svasti,

please note, that hidden links might be regarded by search engines as black hat SEO; see e.g. http://www.seo-gold.com/blackhat-seo-hidden-links.html. That's probably no problem, if the link points to the same domain, but you'll never know...

Christoph

[svasti]

Hi Christoph,

might be regarded by search engines as black hat SEO; .... That's probably no problem, if the link points to the same domain, but you'll never know...

Well may be a point to consider, didn't think of that.

Hi Tata, I know, my code simply hides the link visually. It is just meant to be an alternative to a plainly visible link. Calling the funktion through URL is of course much saver, but the people for whom I do websites don't want complicated inputs. Everything must be extremly simple.

Considering Christophs SEO objections, I might just as well use the standard method again.

svasti