Secrets to detecting spammer sites
Elinor Mills Former Staff Writer
Elinor Mills covers Internet security and privacy. She joined CNET News in 2005 after working as a foreign correspondent for Reuters in Portugal and writing for The Industry Standard, the IDG News Service and the Associated Press.
Ever wonder how Google distinguishes legitimate Web sites from spammer sites? A patent application reveals some tips, according to an editorial on Buzzle.com.
One red flag is a one-year domain name registration, which is common for spammers for whom temporary locations are helpful to avoid detection. Google also looks at the changes to links over time and duration. "Google records the discovery of a link and link changes over time. The speed at which a site gains links and the link life span. With this in mind fast link acquisition may be a strong indicator of potential search engine spam," the site says.
The editorial recommends growing Web sites organically and being careful with exchanging links with other Web sites.