When will you release a non-encrypted and unbranded version of VBSEO?

Hello,
Your software looks great and we are eager to purchase it. However, we need a version that is not encrypted and does not require us to display your copyright.
We left you a couple of voice mails, but no one ever called us back. When do you plan to release a non-encrypted and non-branded version of what looks to be a great product.
Thanks in advance!

A non-encrypted version of vBSEO is not currently planned. A copyright removal option is possible for the near future. We do not have an estimated time.

Hey Joe,

While it may not seem feasible to release a non-encrypted version of the vBSEO software at this point and time. I believe if ever it is to be offered, that the license cost of a non-encrypted version may range upwards of $500 (I’ve bought software before where I paid close to that, and ended up with zend encrypted code…I was not very happy, especially since I had no say over how it ran on my server and the authors were a hit and miss. You either bumped into them by accident or never got a response.) I am glad vBSEO's team is comprised of grade A+ developers. As I know this would never be the case here.

If you were to release a non encrypted version, then I as I said, I could see it for $500 but not less. The vBSEO software is simply astonishing at the amount of things it does, and does extremely well. The development team here at vbseo.com is nothing short of being the highest grade of developers a software / client could ever wish to have on board.

Thanks for the feedback Bob. We are looking at various additional vBSEO options. Your suggestion may be an option in the future.

Originally Posted by Bain

If you were to release a non encrypted version, then I as I said, I could see it for $500 but not less.

I do believe you are missing the point of the encryption. It is irrelevant what the cost of a non-encrypted product would be, as there would be an instant open source copy cat (code rewritten so that it's not a copyright violation) of vBSEO.

Your $500 in sales pales in comparison with the loss of revenue unencrypted code would create.

Yea, Vbseo knows what they are doing. I would leave it encryped.

As a LONGTIME user of vBSEO, and not as a Staff Member....here is my PERSONAL opinion of vBSEO's encrypted state.

With the number of people using vBSEO AND complaining about issues with the encryption being about zero (I haven't found any tickets or threads anyway )...

I guess what I am trying to say is "How can you knock it if you haven't tried it?".

One thing mentioned ad nauseum is the 'I dont know what it is doing to my server!'.

To this, I respond: 1) I don't NEED to know what it is doing to my server. I know what it is doing on the outside, and I have the ability to check which files are causing load etc.. vBSEO files are never mentioned on my Server Load pages.

2) No company that values its goodwill would put anything at all dodgy into encrypted code. Why would Crawlability risk future business by putting anything into the code that would cause customers to consider the company to be underhanded?

So.. in a nutshell, what is really so bad about Encrypted code?

i know the zend doesn't bother me

these ppl that are worried about encryption, I wonder if they are using XP ? or Dos.. I'd bet $ that you have hidden files all over your Pc

I'm still waiting on a "Brand Free" version as well. Money is ready to send as soon as it's available

I'm not so worried about the encryption stuff, I just don't want the copyright notices/footprint/linkbacks to vbseo/crawlability on my forum (I have a brand free vbulletin license as well )

Originally Posted by Rodney

I'm still waiting on a "Brand Free" version as well. Money is ready to send as soon as it's available

I'm not so worried about the encryption stuff, I just don't want the copyright notices/footprint/linkbacks to vbseo/crawlability on my forum (I have a brand free vbulletin license as well )

Each day you are loosing your advantage

Originally Posted by Lizard King

Each day you are loosing your advantage

Not really helpful or correct

However, one could also say that each day vbseo is losing customers because of this "brand free" issue which has come up time and time again.

Originally Posted by Rodney

Not really helpful or correct

However, one could also say that each day vbseo is losing customers because of this "brand free" issue which has come up time and time again.

vBSEO informed people that they are consedering branding free option in close feature. Mine is correct because each day you loose without vBSEO you'll loose your advantage but i respect you also. Installing now and purchasing branding free option when it is avaible will give you way more advantage

Originally Posted by Lizard King

vBSEO informed people that they are consedering branding free option in close feature.

Yes, I'm aware of this. I've read all the "in the future" promises Like I said in my original post, "I'm Waiting".

I didn't say they weren't going to do it or that they are bad or anything. Just that I was waiting with money ready to buy (as I'm sure others are as well).

Mine is correct because each day you loose without vBSEO you'll loose your advantage but i respect you also. Installing now and purchasing branding free option when it is avaible will give you way more advantage

I understand what you're saying, and I'm not looking for an off topic debate or anything. My original on topic post to this "pre sales question" thread was just to chime and as a pre-sales customer that has been waiting for the "brand free" option as a friendly reminder that it's still a requested feature.

I just believe that if I bought it now and installed it now, the copyright notices would be there which is not helpful to my site

How would this not be an advantage?

Let's say that Google decides that the crawlability product is creating spam for its search engine and it decides to include in its algorithm at quick check for a crawlability/vbseo copyright notice at the bottom of those pages and devalue the pages with that "footprint".

Also, let's say that there is a xss or other security vulnerability found in vbseo that allowed hackers compromise a server. Devious folks then search google for all the different powered by vbseo crawlability copyright notices to find targets to attack with their exploit.

Those are just 2 reasons why it would be a disadvantage to leave it there. There are several more I'm sure none of those 2 situations above have happened yet, but to minimize risk, it would be nice to have it removed.

Again, I understand that they are considering it and they may put it in a future release. I didn't post a comment to make staff defensive or anything, I understand the reasons why they would want it there. They seem to have great support and a great script. I'm not telling them how to run their business or whining about a lack of action, I just wanted to give a friendly reminder that it's a feature that is still wanted by more than just the original poster

I understand your points. I am not acting defensive trust me just trying to point a view of mine to you but there is something i can't agree with you at all.

Let's say that Google decides that the crawlability product is creating spam for its search engine and it decides to include in its algorithm at quick check for a crawlability/vbseo copyright notice at the bottom of those pages and devalue the pages with that "footprint".

There is absolutely no reason for google to do that because vbseo doesn't use any kind of black or grey seo tactics and even if we agree on the senario google will have to ban all kind of sites who are using mod_rewrite. In that situation they will now need any kind of algorithm that will check crawlability/vbseo copyright notice.

As for the exploit i totally trust vBSEO Team and that is not i am a moderator here. I trust them because since i've been a member here i can see how they support their product. Even if there may be a security hole discovered i know vBSEO team will cover it immediately and release a patch for that hole.

The first time i checked vBSEO i also requested a non encrypted version and also a branding free option. If i make a deep search i can even find the posts that i was also complaining about this but after i checked vBSEO board a while and saw the support level i decided to give vBSEO a chance and as my wife agress with me ( she is co admin at my site ) that is the wisest decison i made with any kind of paid script i've bought for my site even better then vBulletin

There is absolutely no reason for google to do that because vbseo doesn't use any kind of black or grey seo tactics and even if we agree on the senario google will have to ban all kind of sites who are using mod_rewrite.

Google wouldn't "have" to do anything like make the ban on all mod_rewrite sites They can do what they feel is best.

I'm just trying to minimize the risk. Google has been known to check for certain common "footprints" to thwarts over optimized webstes (not saying that is what vbSEO is doing, but just giving an example).

As for the exploit i totally trust vBSEO Team

It's not really a matter of trust. I trust vbulletin as well. I trust the phpbb team. I trust lots of php developers that release products.

However, if exploits are found (not hidden "bugs" by vbseo, but security issues found by secunia or other security groups that check these things), it's not a matter of trust.

From what I've seen of the support staff here, I'm sure the vbseo team will patch any security problems that they are notified of ASAP, but sometimes malicious users decide to test their exploit on hundreds of sites by googling for the same "footprint" that is common to the exploited script. And that's assuming that the team is notified before someone decides to mess around.

Without the copyright footprint, it makes it a bit harder to track down who's using what script.

Spammers also often search google for a common powered by footprint so they can find a way to post comment spam or grab email addresses or do whatever spammy things that spammers do.

Originally Posted by Rodney

Again, I understand that they are considering it and they may put it in a future release. I didn't post a comment to make staff defensive or anything, I understand the reasons why they would want it there. They seem to have great support and a great script. I'm not telling them how to run their business or whining about a lack of action, I just wanted to give a friendly reminder that it's a feature that is still wanted by more than just the original poster

I guess it's best we just agree to disagree on the "importance" of a "branded free" version I'm sure the staff already knows about some customer's desire for a branding free version