Adsense publisher ID scraping

How to hide your publisher ID from scrapers

[numnum]

I'm revisiting a topic I posted about last year (I can't find that thread). To review, Blekko and other scrapers (some fee-based) have collected Adsense publisher ID codes so anyone can easily find out all the sites/blogs using the same ID. Like many publishers, I'm incensed by this behavior, as it has deterred me from creating new blogs and sites that might be good Adsense money-making hobby sites. Apparently, there's no way to mask one's ID without violating the Adsense TOS. (Encrypting doesn't work.)

Would either of the following two methods work to thwart the robo-scrapers?

* Place each Adsense ad in an iframe

* White-list just the Google and Bing engines in your htaccess file

Also, does anyone know if the scrapers collect Google Affiliate ID codes, which are different than Adsense ID codes?

[incrediBILL]

Sure you can stop those bots that want to be stopped. You assume that the scrapers won't use standard browser user agents which is what many that don't want to be stopped do.

Not sure why just AdSense IDs bother you as you can also be tracked with whatever 3rd party analytics or any other tracking or ad system you put in any of those pages.

Basically, if you don't want people to know what you're doing, don't post it online.

It's really that simple.

Besides, what kind of hobby sites are you posting that are so embarrassing you don't want people to know about them?

Had to ask.. ;)

[explorador]

I also worry about this and would like to find a way to remain anonymous. It is a right, and there are many valid respectful reasons to want that. There is an old thread about electronic bullying with very interesting real life examples. Some real life business suffer from this, besides internet business are easier to target (around your persona).

Many members here have a network of sites and despite the policies of the forum not talking about specifics, many also refuse to reveal their site names. In fact, it's been discussed (specially on the electronic bullying) how many just don't want any lights and stay in the shade creating 100% original valid content without wanting to be known. It is a hobbie.

Basically, if you don't want people to know what you're doing, don't post it online.

It's really that simple.

Besides, what kind of hobby sites are you posting that are so embarrassing you don't want people to know about them?

You are assumming, there are many valid reasons.


I had a business offer from a guy who turns out to be scrapping sites. I refused so he went after my content. My sites are not linked.

[netmeg]

As long as the pub-id is right there in the source code, anyone can see it and anyone can search for it and given the right tools, anyone can find it. There's just nothing you can do about it, because any way of obfuscating it would violate TOS. The *only* away around it is for AdSense to re-work the ad code, and there's no incentive for them to do it.

also worry about this and would like to find a way to remain anonymous. It is a right

No, it's not a right. If you want to remain anonymous, then you don't want to sign up for anything of Google's.

[koan]

what kind of hobby sites are you posting that are so embarrassing you don't want people to know about them?

If you have community sites, you inevitably end up with some enemies, because of bans, suspensions, or difference in opinions, especially with emotional subjects like politics or religion. Some of them don't have much of a life or are mentally unstable and can dedicate their time to waste yours. If you end up pissing someone off who is technically literate, they can give you a hard time, and you certainly don't want things to spill over to your other sites.

[explorador]

Exactly koan. I'm surprised by the other comments, remember bad things also happen to good people, no shame on that. Some times even the success of your sites may be the reason, it's complicated. Liking it or not, or agreeing, seeing why it make sense, is off topic, keeping things private IS the topic but unfortunately G doesn't allow multiple accounts except business and personal (that's two accounts), been discussed before too.

Some cases need certain explanations (and specifics) that not everybody is going to understand (or see the severity), diff countries, diff many things.