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> Google Cloaks?
Jill
post Mar 7 2005, 06:40 PM
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I've been in and out all day and meant to post this early, but didn't have a chance.

Apparently, the folks over at ThreadWatch found some interesting evidence that Google is actually cloaking some informational pages on their site to rank higher -- in Google?

Is that not one of the funniest things you've ever heard? It just really makes me (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/lol.gif)

Here's the ThreadWatch thread for the details: Google Cloaks

What I don't get is why they don't just hand boost their page?
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leadegroot
post Mar 7 2005, 10:24 PM
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Well, I've heard it said that the Google engine doesn't allow for hand tweaking.
If thats true then they couldn't finangle it that way.

*giggle* ...Google cloaking... (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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Randy
post Mar 7 2005, 10:40 PM
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You cannot hide forever Luke. Give yourself to the dark side. It is the only way to save your friends ...ermm... business. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
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Jill
post Mar 7 2005, 10:42 PM
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QUOTE
Well, I've heard it said that the Google engine doesn't allow for hand tweaking.


Last I heard it doesn't allow for cloaking either!

The whole situation is just too funny for words. Spamming their own engine. Go figure. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/yahoo.gif)
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Hyperformance
post Mar 8 2005, 06:54 AM
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Hey Jill, (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Thanks for sharing...

Lately, I'm not surprised at too much Google does... (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/eek.gif) they have definitely changed from who they were and what their goals were... in many areas. This would be my opinion.

Market Share tells few lies.
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Renagade Master
post Mar 8 2005, 07:46 AM
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Wow! What are Google doing? Are they bored of having a choir boy image, so are starting to rebel and become evil.

This combined with Scumware seriously blackens their image in my view.

"Dark side..." indeed.
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qwerty
post Mar 8 2005, 08:06 AM
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It's kind of cute that the page is nowhere to be found on Yahoo and MSN, but #1 on Google. Without the spammy title tag, it isn't exactly optimized.

Then again, with the spammy title tag, the page is the sort of thing I laugh at when I'm researching competition for my clients.
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Alan Perkins
post Mar 8 2005, 08:42 AM
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This does appear to be UA cloaking.
QUOTE(qwerty @ Mar 8 2005, 01:06 PM)
It's kind of cute that the page is nowhere to be found on Yahoo and MSN, but #1 on Google. Without the spammy title tag, it isn't exactly optimized.
The robots.txt file denies access to all other robots, so they are only trying to deceive their own robot (although remember that the Adwords team is kept separate from the natural search team).

Anyway, I've reported it. Let's see what happens. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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Randy
post Mar 8 2005, 09:07 AM
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QUOTE(Alan Perkins @ Mar 8 2005, 07:42 AM)
Anyway, I've reported it.  Let's see what happens. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
*


(IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif) (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif) (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif) (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif) (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif)
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MakeMeTop
post Mar 8 2005, 10:52 AM
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QUOTE(Randy @ Mar 8 2005, 09:07 AM)
(IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif) (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif) (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif) (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif) (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif)
*


I've reported it too!

What an underhand "deceptive" trick (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/clapping.gif)

Can't wait to see what certain "white hats" say. What's good for the Goose etc., perhaps?

I think not - but it is going to be interesting to see if anyone tries to defend this and what arguments they use!

Best laugh I've had in years! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif)
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qwerty
post Mar 8 2005, 10:56 AM
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QUOTE
Can't wait to see what certain "white hats" say. What's good for the Goose etc., perhaps?

That's right... as of today, I'm changing my username. qwerty is dead. Long live cloaky (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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Jill
post Mar 8 2005, 10:59 AM
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Okay, so let's take bets as to what will happen...

I'm betting the pages will quietly disappear any time now. (Proving that your reporting does actually work...NOT!)
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Alan Perkins
post Mar 8 2005, 11:00 AM
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QUOTE(MakeMeTop @ Mar 8 2005, 03:52 PM)
What an underhand "deceptive" trick
Joking aside, this is "deceptive" advertising IMO. Presumably (or what's the point?), they are boosting the position of their paid advertisement program within their natural search results to a position that the content does not merit.
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Alan Perkins
post Mar 8 2005, 11:02 AM
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QUOTE(Jill @ Mar 8 2005, 03:59 PM)
I'm betting the pages will quietly disappear any time now.
I'm betting the UA cloaking will disappear and the pages will remain in the index.
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Hyperformance
post Mar 8 2005, 12:39 PM
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Hmmmm, bets huh? (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup1.gif)

I'll bet they just leave it set for a while and see what becomes of it... (including our discoveries) this is what they have been doing with every other topic of controversy.

I was very happy to see you guys report it! I love it! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/clapping.gif)
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