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February 09, 2012, 08:51:35 PM

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Author Topic: __utm.gif -- why are spiders looking for Google urchin.js?  (Read 1250 times)
dbrewster
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« on: August 01, 2008, 07:43:28 AM »
... and what should I do about it?

Error log full of robots looking for __utm.gif, which is part of Google's earlier Google Analytics code. I never used urchin on my site.

I suppose others are seeing this too, but it's impossible to search this forum for "__utm.gif" ... either that, or I'm the only one getting these attacks.

It's a lot of IP addresses to ban.

Should I redirect 'em?

Would like to hear your suggestions. Just ignore?

---Diana
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speculumcm
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« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2008, 07:43:23 PM »
Hello Diana,

I use Analytics and don't have that problem and don't have _utm.gif in my code, could you post a url?
BTW  ga.js is more recent than urchin.js in google analytics  Friend

Cheers
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dbrewster
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« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2008, 07:30:50 AM »
Thanks VERY much for the reply, speculumcm!

My web site's at http://www.coreknowledge.org.

A sample of my error log today is attached.

This is the google analytics code I use:

Code:
<script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write("\<script src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'>\<\/script>" );
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-3249899-1");
pageTracker._initData();
pageTracker._trackPageview();
</script>

I posted this question on Google Analytics Groups, but got no reply.  Confused
* error-log-sample.txt (3.96 KB - downloaded 67 times.)
« Last Edit: August 04, 2008, 07:43:52 AM by dbrewster » Logged
dbrewster
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« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2008, 07:53:37 AM »
update: I think I've solved this, but time will tell.

I updated the Google Analytics plugin for Wordpress a few weeks ago. Finally a lightbulb went off over my head, and I checked the settings.

Yup, blank settings, and "I use Urchin, too" checked by default.

Hmm, a lot more settings to figure out this time!

But I do suspect that I've found the culprit. I'll let you know for sure.

---Diana
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speculumcm
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« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2008, 01:55:02 PM »
Hey Diana,

Great, so you solved it.

Just as an addition you can see these links

https://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics/bin/answer.py?answer=55488&hl=en_US&utm_id=ad
http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2007-12-13-n83.html

This is the google analytics code you use in this line :

Code:
document.write("\<script src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'>\<\/script>" );


Although the last version it's:

Code:
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));

Don't know if that can cause any issue since it's just for validation purpose, but I wanted to comment it  Smiling

Also this link it's for Analytics in WP

http://cavemonkey50.com/code/google-analyticator/#download

Might be helpful.

Best regards,
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dbrewster
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« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2008, 08:02:49 AM »
Just a follow-up to confirm that yes, that was indeed the reason for the __utm.gif errors. I'm not seeing any more of those.

And thank you, speculumcm, for the heads up on the latest google analytics code, I've updated the rest of my website.

I'm using a different WP plugin for Analytics, and I'm satisfied with it right now, but thanks for showing me an alternative.

--Diana
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