Google Tool Bar - Risky to SEO?

Google knows to much

[drdsl2000]

We believe the Google Toolbar and the new Google Deskbar represent a risk to all SEO's and Internet Marketing companies.

Since Google's bottom line is Advertising Revenue, we believe that Google's ability to know what users are doing i.e. typing keywords to check rank, check backlinks, over time allows Google to make supply and demand decisions regarding Keyword Value=AdWords cost, and on and on.

We choose not to help them with that!

Effective immediately, we have removed the Google Toolbar on all machines and we urge all SEO's and Marketers to do likewise.

Sincerely
Craig Salomon

[edited by: heini at 8:45 pm (utc) on Dec. 3, 2003]
[edit reason] Please use the profile for personal info / thanks! [/edit]

[bcolflesh]

You may want to talk to someone in your employ who knows a bit about the toolbar and a firewall - you don't have to enable the "send info" portion as per the prompt during install - and you can always block/filter outgoing data at the packet level if you are so inclined.

[Robino]

I don't send any info to Google via the toolbar. So I don't consider it a risk.

[edited by: heini at 8:46 pm (utc) on Dec. 3, 2003]
[edit reason] please don't post site specifics [/edit]

[layer8]

It's true packet filtering can be setup on almost any outbound traffic. However I did read somewhere that Google check the traffic levels to particular sites this way to give them an idea if a site is of particular value.

If this is true then you have a catch 22...

[yowza]

I just got rid of the Google toolbar.

Why? Because I noticed (through my firewall) that my outgoing info had increased so much that my download speed became very slow. I could barely use the internet - even with the high speed connection.

I had chosen the option of not sending info to google, but info was being sent anyway.

Now that it is uninstalled, my internet is working much faster than before.

[is300]

In addition to the google toolbar, i also have some third party adult toolbar that magically downloaded in to my IE browser without me knowing. I know I can hide it, but is there a way I can go and completely remove it from the browser? I can't find where it's installed on my system...I'm assuming in an IE folder or something. Can anyone help?

[bcolflesh]

First check:

Tools > Internet Options >
On the Genral tab, click the Settings button under Temporary Internet Files >
Click the View Objects button >
Check the properties on all the items, remove the ones you don't use.

Then download, update, and run SpyBot:

safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download

[Rugles]

I bought a cheap used PC and put the toolbar on it. I only use it once a month when the PR is updated. Very little risk this way.