True Search Results

Are SE Results Being Hijacked?

[kdobson99]

Is it possible for the search results for google and yahoo to be hijacked by some type of parasite before they are displayed to me? When I search with either google or yahoo on a topic, for a split second, I see the number 2 or 3 result displayed in the number 1 position, then replaced with something else, and the original number 1 shuffled to number 2 or 3.

For Example, try this search on google: national geographic magazine.

For a split second, nationalgeographic.com is displayed as my number 1 result... this makes sense since it is the most relevant. Then it is replaced with a site mags4cheap.com, and booksamillion both of which are trying to sell the magazine. National Geographic.com is then displayed as result 3.

I think some spyware or parasite is hijacking the resuts. Maybe this has been discussed here before. What results do you get with that search?

It is similar for about any search I do... Search for Callaway Golf Club and CallawayGolf.com is initially number 1, then moved to number 3, replaced by two stores that sell golf clubs.

Thanks... now, may I also ask where I sign up with the parasite company to get the number 1 results?... just kidding.

Ken

[Warren]

What may be a silly question but have you checked your PC for spyware?

And tried the same search from a different (clean) PC?

[encyclo]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com], kdobson99.

You are definitely suffering from a spyware problem - there are a number of parasites which alter the Google results as you mention. You can get spyware bundled with downloaded "free" software (such as Kazaa and other filesharing software), or if you are running a Windows computer which is not fully-patched (and sometimes, even when it is fully patched) - for example, by clicking "Yes" to an ActiveX control on a malicious website which automatically downloads and installs the malware.

What to do? Download Ad-Aware [lavasoftusa.com] and Spybot Search and Destroy [safer-networking.org] to remove the pests, then switch to Firefox [mozilla.org] as your browser, leaving Internet Explorer only for testing websites and downloading Windows Updates.

[kdobson99]

I am sure there is spyware on this computer. I clean it weekly, but it comes back... That isn't my point... I have seen a lot of things from spyware, but to alter the results of google and yahoo search results? Surely this cant be done, can it? What appeared number 1 for your National Geographic Magazine search?

[kdobson99]

The purpose of my post wasn't about how to get rid of spyware... I know how to do that etc. I just wasn't aware that search engine results could be affected by spyware without me... a fairly astute surfer noticing it.

I ask because I am in the process of optimizing some pages and now realize that with probably half of the computers in the world affected with spyware, I will never get to number 1 in google or yahoo if my competetors buy listings from the spyware companies. I can tell you that I have 3 computers in this house and all display the results the same.

I have to say that this is the most "impressive"(bad choice of words, I know) use of spyware that I have seen to date. I spend hours upon hours optimizing pages, and for millions and millions of users of google, yahoo, and more, a guy can spend a few bucks and beat me for those millions of people.

Thanks... Now I will get rid of the spyware.

[encyclo]

What appeared number 1 for your National Geographic Magazine search?

National Geographic magazine, of course. But I don't have spyware, as I'm running Firefox on Linux. If you want to stick with Windows you need to be fully-patched at all times, have a proper anti-virus (updated) and a firewall (not the toytown Windows XP one, a real firewall), and you just simply have to stop using Internet Explorer. It is a major spyware-magnet.

Spyware programs have been hijacking Google results for ages - they do stuff like alter your hosts file to redirect calls for google.com to their own servers, then they pass your search on, collate the results and patch their links on the top.

Open up your hosts file to see what's in there. To find it, it is here:

Windows XP: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC\HOSTS
Windows 2K: C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC\HOSTS
Win 98\ME: C:\WINDOWS\HOSTS

You should have an entry for 127.0.0.1 pointing to localhost, and that's all (unless you've added entries yourself).