cookie to avoid invalid clicks

[Publisher1]

Yesterday, far away from home base, while working on my sites through my laptop using my host's server (via wireless connection), I inadvertently clicked on one of my sites' ads. The click didn't take too long to register -- but it also quickly appeared on the specific channel as a zero cent click.

How could Google know not to count this click? I was certainly not using my usual ISP and in fact I was nowhere near my usual geographic location. My best guess -- the Google Adsense Preview Tool. I think it has a cookie installed to "know" that clicks from the particular computer where the preview tool is installed should never register as a valid click.

[flyerguy]

You are correct, it is the intended design of the Preview Tool to let publishers click-through to the destination of the ad without incurring a charge. A 'safe-mode'.

If you click, send an email to Adsense support explaining it. They will send you a canned email explaining not to do it again, however you should really do this everytime you errantly click.

Check this forum for peoples strategies on avoiding accidental clicks: popular - using server-side code to prevent display of ads to your own IP address.

If you have dynamic DSL that changes IP every few days like me, you must come up with something more creative.

[SteveLetwin]

What's your more creative way of avoiding invalid clicks? If you don't mind sharing, that is.

[flyerguy]

I put one of my old -$4200 bank account statements on the wall as a reminder as to where I could end up again if I click my Google ads. :)

More practical, (or for those who have never been poor), you can;

- set a persistent cookie on your machine, script your site not to show google ads when the cookie is present
- edit your Windows zone file to block google ads altogether
- use a commerical ad blocking program or a plugin for the Firefox browser
- if you're in the UPS club, pay a bikini model to hold her hand in front of the google ad block on your screen all day

[Publisher1]

Thanks for the observations. Rather than just sending Google an email apologizing for the errant click, I'll let them know I started this thread.

Based on the insights here, the preview tool is probably one of the best safeguards we have, especially if we are using a laptop/portable computer. Clearly, if we can't accidentally generate an invalid click it relieves a lot of stress

[Chapman]

Publisher1-

While the preview tool may be the reason Google was aware of your mobile network identification, I would also think that you most likely alerted Google to the new IP address by simply logging into your Adsense account before you began working on your site.

Who doesn't check their current stats before getting down to work?

I've had the same type of situation occur while traveling, using computers of friends or relatives that used alternate browsers or did not have the preview tool installed, and Google still knew the click was to be considered false.

I believe they keep an accumulating list of IP addresses that an Adsense account is logged into from and each becomes an "account affiliated address" whose clicks are not counted AND is monitored for fraud... making it crucial to be mindfull of where your logging in from.

[toomer]

Add this line to the end of the C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file on every system you use:

127.0.0.1 pagead2.googlesyndication.com

No more AdSense ads. If you want to re-enable them temporarily to check layout issues, targeting, etc., just edit the same file again and comment it out by putting a # in front of the 127.0.0.1.

[pldaniels]

And on most UNIX systems, you can edit /etc/hosts and add

127.0.0.1 localhost pagead2.googlesyndication.com

(please note, the 127.0.0.1 entry will probably -- SHOULD probaby already exist, so just append to it)

[Content_ed]

I accidentally clicked an ad the other day for the first time. The ironic thing was I'd just concluded a correspondence with Adsense support about the MFA's filling up my competitive ad filter. They said that for the time being, the best solution was to keep an eye on my ads and keep using the filter. I wrote them immediately after it happened, gave the exact channel the click was on, received a mild, canned lecture.

My usually technique to avoid clicking on ads is to use a mouse (stay the heck away from that touchpad) and to float the mouse around with my fingers holding the sides, as far from the buttons as possible. Otherwise, there's always a danger of twitching with us old folks.

[jikel morten]

Based on the insights here, the preview tool is probably one of the best safeguards we have

I don't think 'safeguard' is the right word. Sure, your click might register as a zero cent click, but the intention of the tool is not so you can freely click your own ads, unless, of course, you're actually firing up the tool itself. Even though it registers as a zero, I'm sure a flag still goes up at google.