google toolbar hijacking 404 pages - BlackHatCrew

poto · 02-17-2008, 02:32 PM

now this is pretty alarming... I don't have google toolbar installed on any of my machines... but I think I'm going to have to install it just to test if my 404s are still working on various sites of mine...

google might be stealing my traffic

Quote:

This morning I installed the Google Toolbar beta version on one of my computers and my oh my - there is something that can have huge impact to many webmasters. Google grabs the 404 error code returned to the web browser in certain situations and instead of displaying the 404 error page of the website you are on, it creates a custom 404 error page - made by Google. The “new” 404 error page ‘conveniently’ includes a Google search box and if used by a visitor will drive the visitor away from your website. Even worse - the search box is pre-populated with data from the initial URL query on your website. Imagine a situation where kind of sensitive data is send to Google that way. Even normal data would make it to Google that way and we all know what Google does with data. For me as a webmaster this is a major intrusion into my own intellectual property. My normal 404 error page is effectively disabled by the Google Toolbar. This is bad.

source: Seoker.com » Google hijacking 404 error pages
and an update: Seoker.com » Update on the Google 404 Page Hijack

piratescurvy · 02-17-2008, 06:22 PM

Do no evil. --Google

LOL.

poto · 02-18-2008, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piratescurvy

Do no evil. --Google

LOL.

yea, the do no evil thing is pretty funny... I've seen the hypocrisy of that mentioned many times...

can't get much more evil than using your install base to steal traffic...

what's next for google? cookie stuffing? sheeeeeet...

matthecool · 02-18-2008, 02:03 PM

wrong end of the stick poto i think

they are only taking 404 hits where there is no other option to go and the browswer only shows blank

example...

default 404 pages, dns changes, etc

Here is what fluffygrrl posted on gfy

Quote:

read the fine print :

3 site issues detected by Google Toolbar : 404 errors with default error pages ; DNS errors ; Connection failures

None of those you can redirect anywhere anyway, so.

if you have something on your 404 then it comes up with your page.

i got annoyed at my old isp when I installed their software and when I typed in cams.ckm it actully redirected me to cams.com with their affiliate link in.

I wonder if people knew that a big phone comapny was an affiliate of penthouse would their minds change at all

poto · 02-18-2008, 04:18 PM

Matt... did you bother to read what I posted?

obviously fluffygrrl is a moron who's just posting useless tripe from the mouth of the beast (google)...

the guy mentioned above has a custom 404 page with a meta redirect and google toolbar is still stealing his 404 traffic...

tho, I did read in one of the comments that said the problem is his 404 page is less than 512 bytes and I guess that's why google is stealing his traffic?!? if that's the case, then loading down a bunch of extra crap into your 404 page should fix it... but it's still bullshit...

I have not had time to download google toolbar and test this against all of my various 404s yet... will do so as soon as I'm caught up with other more important work...

matthecool · 02-19-2008, 02:10 AM

of course i read what you wrote poto, but I also read what someone else posted and if the mouth of the beast is saying that it only comes up when there is nothing else to be displayed then why would they lie, in order to be caught out? I neither have it installed, so I guess a test is in order.

I dont see google doing it thats all.

02-18-2008, 04:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
poto splogtastic Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,007	Matt... did you bother to read what I posted? obviously fluffygrrl is a moron who's just posting useless tripe from the mouth of the beast (google)... the guy mentioned above has a custom 404 page with a meta redirect and google toolbar is still stealing his 404 traffic... tho, I did read in one of the comments that said the problem is his 404 page is less than 512 bytes and I guess that's why google is stealing his traffic?!? if that's the case, then loading down a bunch of extra crap into your 404 page should fix it... but it's still bullshit... I have not had time to download google toolbar and test this against all of my various 404s yet... will do so as soon as I'm caught up with other more important work... __________________ My Ratios :: My Blacklist

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02-17-2008, 06:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
piratescurvy Gettin' My Money Right Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 22	Do no evil. --Google LOL.

02-19-2008, 02:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
matthecool member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 115	of course i read what you wrote poto, but I also read what someone else posted and if the mouth of the beast is saying that it only comes up when there is nothing else to be displayed then why would they lie, in order to be caught out? I neither have it installed, so I guess a test is in order. I dont see google doing it thats all.