Hiding AdWords Search Terms

someone is doing it

[Jakes Redding]

In checking my server logs, found an AdWords search performed without the search terms included. Didn't know this was possible. Checking the IP address, it looks like it came from a government research lab in Albuquerque, NM.

Possibly a Google anomaly or can someone actually hide their search terms from Google?

[rocknbil]

Are you running any ads in the content network?

[Jakes Redding]

rocknbil, just using Google search. Not using either their search network or content network.

The usual portion of the log entry, i.e., "http://www.google.com/search?q=my+search+term..." was instead empty quotes: "-"

However, I definitely got charged for the click and can deduce the general search phrase used by examining my campaign stats.

I don't know enough about this stuff to have an informed opinion, but maybe it's a network security thing on the users part?

[jomaxx]

Exactly. The browser or the firewall is configured not to provide this information when surfing the net.

It's theoretically a security risk, especially when you consider what could be going on at a government research lab in New Mexico.