Video: Simple hacking of Feedburner subscriber count

According to Joop Dorresteijn over at The Next Web, it’s possible to game Feedburner to artificially inflate the number of subscribers you have, simply by cutting and pasting an OPML file, using NetVibes, and waiting a few hours.

It doesn’t actually increase subscribers (that’s the whole point) but it does inflate the count shown on the chicklet, which could possibly then encourage other visitors to subscribe.

The video example shows the genuine subscriber count on Joop’s personal blog of 43 artificially inflated to nearly 2,600.

The post concludes:

Moral of the story is: everybody can have a lot of Feedburner readers, which makes the service questionable as a measurement of performance. It’s up to Google/Feedburner to fix things up.

It’s arguable how much worth this hack has, but nevertheless it’s definitely one that should be closed up.

See Also
Client Relationships

Feedburner hacked! from Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten on Vimeo.

(Via The Next Web)

Neuroscientist reveals a new way to manifest more financial abundance

Breakthrough Columbia study confirms the brain region is 250 million years old, the size of a walnut and accessible inside your brain right now.

Learn More

Picture of Andy Merrett

Andy Merrett

Andy Merrett is a London-based full-time blogger writing for several Shiny Media technology blogs and various other projects. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

RECENT ARTICLES

TRENDING AROUND THE WEB

7 signs you’re in a relationship with someone who lacks emotional depth

7 signs you’re in a relationship with someone who lacks emotional depth

Baseline

10 personality traits of men who show true loyalty in a relationship

10 personality traits of men who show true loyalty in a relationship

Global English Editing

10 signs you’re giving way too much and your partner is taking advantage of it

10 signs you’re giving way too much and your partner is taking advantage of it

Small Business Bonfire

4 zodiac signs who are definitely on the right path in life

4 zodiac signs who are definitely on the right path in life

Baseline

7 clever ways to show a master manipulator you won’t play their games

7 clever ways to show a master manipulator you won’t play their games

Small Business Bonfire

10 subtle signs you are actually an extremely likable person

10 subtle signs you are actually an extremely likable person

Global English Editing