[Plugin: TAC (Theme Authenticity Checker)] An example of something NOT caught by TAC

I downloaded some themes from a “free themes” site, and they all contain sponsor links in the footer. TAC sees those as “static links” and flags them. But it doesn’t flag the fact that there are 3-4 places (in functions.php and header.php) where obfuscated code (using str_rot13) checks the footer and kills the site if the links are removed. In fact, it gives them the green “Theme OK!” sign.

Just something to watch out for…

(BTW, the theme’s author doesn’t list a license anywhere on his “free themes” site. In some of the comments on the site, he says it’s a Creative Commons license… but he doesn’t say which one, and the standard attribution Creative Commons license does NOT require you to keep sponsored links. Just FYI.)