Forum Moderators: phranque
I'm not a techie, and am only a part time webmaster, but the situation seems to be that they insert 3 links to their own site from customer pages when Googlebot calls, but not when the sites are viewed through a browser.
The webmasters are totally oblivious to this activity. Up to 17,000 web sites may be affected.
I took around a couple of hosting boards as well. The little secret seems to be out well and truly now.
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[edited by: Brett_Tabke at 2:53 pm (utc) on April 23, 2004]
[edit reason] we don't do specific sites or specific pleas [/edit]
If I was a webmaster into SEO I would be really horrified to read this. If I was Google, I'd be taking out the hosting company in question immediately.
However that does not mean they will all publicly comment.
Apart from that there is the time issue.
I would guess US site visitors are now having their much needed beauty sleep (no insult intended only humour) and Europeans busily trying to earn the money to pay their bills. The task I am about to return to myself.
I expect there will be interest, debate and or moderator action.
A good find your post.
Not good for the company concerned however, nasty folks that they initially from this seem to be.
I wonder if this action is specified in their tos?
Whew - that's 3 strikes.
We simply don't know the story. We do know the solution - get a new host.
Then contact all these people, show them what their hosting company is up to, and offer to host their sites.
OK, that's a wee time consuming... :)
