http://www.vbseo.com/redirect-to/?redirect=http

I see on forums using vbSEO that this redirection rather than a straight link is commonly found when people have links in signatures, etc. Is this automatcially done or does the user do this?

Thanks in advance!

Hello,

Yes, this is standard vBSEO feature "Redirect ALL External URLs Posted in Private Forums".

What exaclty is a "Private Forum"? Why, for example, does it not do this for the link to the vbSEO sitemap at vb.org, whereas, it does in other signatures here?

Private forum is a subforum that is not visible to guests (so only registered users can see it).