My external images & URLs are getting HIJACKED to the Media Library!

  • I don’t like the WordPress Media Library, so I store my page-graphic images and featured post images in several directories outside my WordPress site.

    I use the popular Divi theme by Elegant Themes.

    From time to time (and I have no idea what causes it) my images get “HIJACKED” and I don’t know whether Divi is doing it, or WordPress…or maybe the security plugin Wordfence?

    The following has happened maybe 10 times in the past several months, and it just happened again today:

    1. Every image appearing on my website got automatically copied to the WordPress Media Library.

    2. All the site’s image URLs got changed, so they point to the new image copies in the Media Library instead of to the original external locations.

    This is a BIG PROBLEM.

    FWIW, I keep everything zeroed on the WordPress Settings > Media page (which is supposed to keep the Media Library from creating additional image file versions in other sizes)

    Is WordPress hijacking my image files? Or is it the Divi theme? Or perhaps a plugin?
    I run very few plugins. The only ones that might possibly be involed are:
    1. Wordfence
    2. Optimize Database After Deleting Revisions
    3. Yoast SEO

    Thanks

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • Moderator t-p

    (@t-p)

    Is WordPress hijacking my image files?

    That’s not the default behavior of the WordPress core.

    Or is it the Divi theme?

    May be.
    For pro or commercial product support please contact the author directly on their site.

    As the author is aware, commercial products are not supported in these forums. As you are their customer I am sure they will have no problem supporting you there.

    Or perhaps a plugin?

    To find out, try deactivating ALL (yes all) plugins temporarily to see if this resolves the problem (plugin functions can interfere). If this works, re-activate them individually (one-by-one) to find the problematic plugin(s).

    Thread Starter BothHands

    (@bothhands)

    Thanks, t-p. I’m glad to know WordPress is not inflicting this on me. =]

    I think WP would like for every user to employ the Media Library, and I can see why, but it doesn’t suit everyone’s needs.

    And thanks, I’ve already submitted an inquiry with the theme maker.

    Deactivating plugins won’t help much because I never know when this weirdness will happen next. Some factor is causing it, but I have no buh-luddy idea what… It might happen tomorrow, or not for another three weeks.

    Moderator t-p

    (@t-p)

    Good luck ??

    Thread Starter BothHands

    (@bothhands)

    Thanks, t-p.

    On the off chance that anyone here might find this useful:

    I’m rebuilding my website from scratch, and noticed the following last night after posting here:

    It appears the Divi theme is the culprit. Divi provides a really helpful “Portability” feature that enables exporting pages, posts, theme option settings, etc as .JSON files. Those files can then be imported into new pages, posts, etc.

    It appears that either the Portability EXPORT or IMPORT function is rewriting my image locations, automatically modifying the URL so it points to the WordPress Media Library. Whatever is at work here is also copying each image file to the WP Media Library.

    Strange but true…

    Moderator t-p

    (@t-p)

    Glad it’s sorted out ??

    Thread Starter BothHands

    (@bothhands)

    I wish I could say it truly is worked out.

    The Divi support rep claims the bizarre image file relocation/redirection is the fault of WordPress and he suggests I employ a plugin to correct all affected URLs.

    I disagreed and advised him of your earlier comments. I suggested he not only double-check his source for that statement, but also enlighten me as to whatever further information he turns up…

    Hmmmm. The Ol’ Blame Game. Same as it ever was… =]

    • This reply was modified 7 years, 1 month ago by BothHands.
Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • The topic ‘My external images & URLs are getting HIJACKED to the Media Library!’ is closed to new replies.