Forum Moderators: martinibuster
Just curious.
> you are probably writing viruses..
No.
I try to discuss about the title's topic.
I think the question is: "are clickbots illegal?"
Not about breaking contracts.
No, the acutal question as it was originally stated is
Would it be illegal to setup adsense on my website and use a clickbot with proxies to click on my own ads to make money?
And, this by it's very nature is fraud. People keep clinging to the idea that the question is about clickbot programs and their legality. But, the actual question was whether it would be legal to use one to make money. That is where it becomes fraud because that person would then have criminal intent. The clickbot program itself is not illegal, but the intent and actions of using that to make money is.
I think we have beat this topic to death.
Now, please don't ask if someone else were to run the clickbot. If the person who set up the Adsense account knows about this and is involved in this process to profit from it then he is still guilty. And if he isn't involved, then maybe he is just lucky to be benefiting from the clickbot. But, you can bet that Google will investigate this and put a stop to it. They have a brand name to protect and will vigorously investigate and prosecute anyone who attempts to interfere with their business.
Now, again, I believe that we have thoroughly beaten this to death. Anyone who still believes that this is not illegal can go out and test their theory and we can read about it on Google News when they are arrested. ;)
No, the acutal question as it was originally stated is "Would it be illegal to setup adsense on my website and use a clickbot with proxies to click on my own ads to make money?"
Although this is the original post, we veered sufficiently from this so as to avoid talking about breaking contracts (a clear-cut legal question) to the legality of automated clicks in general. I believe the title of the thread was even changed to reflect this.
this topic is beaten to death... Everyone is talking about the relation between clickbots and search engines, and forget the advertisers, who would be scammed, because they would pay for a false service (and not the one they ordered), and this isnīt correct.
Providing a good service to advertisers is Google's responsibility as a business and has nothing to do with law. If you get and pay for clickbot traffic from Google, it is Google who is to blame, not the person running the clickbot.
As someone who spends money on click based traffic, and having identified and been refunded fraudulent clicks that were NOT identified by the companies I advertise with, it's important to me from a business point of view to know as much as possible about it, even if this is just so I can factor an amount of useless traffic into any money I spend at places like AdWords.
But, you can bet that Google will investigate this and put a stop to it.
Although this seems to be a common opinion, I do not share it. Think about a 'valid' click and what this actually involves in technical terms - at the simplest level, it's just a file being requested by a PC with a (usually) unique IP address. Then think about how easy it is to get a computer to do this without human intervention.
The fight against automated clicking reminds me very much of the fight against email spam (and who's winning that one?).
entering into a contract with the intention to break that contract IS illegal...dimwit.
Link?
Chapter 63 covers the varities of fraud that criminally actionable at the federal level in the U.S.
Entering into a contract with the intent to defraud is also going to be an actionable tort, with damages awarded to the victim in a successful suit.
Can you go do your own research now please? There's tons of info on contract law, fraud, etc. available on the net.
Yes I fear this..
That's why I want to test the G "countermeasures"..
That's why I want to test the G "countermeasures"..
I hope you don't next decide to test your bank's "countermeasures".
What has been discussed is very clearly a matter of fraud. That is a crime and can also get you sued.
If you still want to do it, consult a lawyer first.
A theft in a bank is a crime, ok, as stated by all world laws.
A clickbot, _no_.
And, when I'll have some time, I'll try to externally damage myself with clickbots, and see what G will make about.
IMO there is no good reason why you a website owner should not be able to test one of your suppliers in this way. You do stand to gain any money through this (you could lose money if Google doesn't detect the clicks ;)) and are after all, just protecting a business interest.
That said, for some reason I thought of something Brett said earlier in the thread - "se's would win in court".
