Reporting Spam

[highman]

Here is the first address

Google : search-quality@google.com
Altavista US: http://help.altavista.com/contact/search
Altavista UK: http://uk.altavista.com/help/report_off?t=12
AOL: abuse@aol.com
Yahoo: url-support@yahoo-inc.com

keep adding as you find em :cheers:

[higman, hope you didn't mind thought it would be handy to have them all at the top. ~jh

[ihelpyou]

Oh sure, post the easiest one and the one everyone uses the mostest! :D

Now I have to dig for the others... :)

[highman]

lol.... it just sprang to mind :)

Altavista US: http://help.altavista.com/contact/search

Altavista UK: http://uk.altavista.com/help/report_off?t=12

[highman]

AOL: abuse@aol.com

now i must get on with some work......

[ihelpyou]

Thanks highman.... work is why I have not searched for any addresses yet. :)

[JuniorHarris]

Oh yeah, work...I knew I was supposed to do something...

[highman]

nice one JuniorHarris :) guess who is going to get all the hate mail....

[JuniorHarris]

Yikes!~ :D

[MsSearch]

Yahoo: url-support@yahoo-inc.com

[JuniorHarris]

Thank-you MsSearch!~:)

[ihelpyou]

Yes. Thank you MsKissy. :)

[MsSearch]

oh Doug...this one's for you! :kisses:

[ihelpyou]

aw shucks... :o:

[Web Witch]

....I just found someone putting the name of SoftDesigns in black on their black background of pages so I just submitted the URL to all the links provided. I wonder if anything will be done by the SE. The note I sent is as follows:

Dear Sir/Madam,

www.ElectricEyeRadio.com is using my name SoftDesigns on their web pages in black the same color as their page background. I do not want them listed when someone does a search for SoftDesigns, the company is what you may call using deceptive advertising. The condone nudity and sex acts by linking to such sites, and SoftDesigns does not in anyway condone such activities.

Please remedy this as soon as possible.


WW

[ihelpyou]

Yes. They do have hidden links but I could not find your link. Where is it? Does not matter as any hidden links are spam.

[Web Witch]

Very bottom of almost all the pages there under:

If you have any questions or comments on the website,
or to report a bug, please e-mail
requests@electriceyeradio.com

Highlight and you'll see SoftDesigns but no link so I guess they are hoping to get traffic from the SE's off my name....

[MazY]

Erm, excuse my ignorance but you don't actually own softdesigns.com do you? At least, not according to Google you don't. No, another company owns it.

Now the first question that sprang to my mind is what on earth could they possibly gain from using the word SoftDesign at the foot of their page? "Absolutely nothing" being the response I drew in my mind.

In fact, to stir the pot even more, enter SoftDesign into Google and I don't see you listed within the top 20 or indeed, top 30.

Unless of course, you have some kind of trademark on the name SoftDesigns, I fail to see the validation in your email to Google. Other than to report one instance of hidden text.

Doesn't mean that what they are doing is right. I just find it incredibly fanciful to believe that they are trying to piggy-back on your name that doesn't do them any favours at all anyway.

Think about it. Why your name? Not that I doubt your success. Truth is I know little about it but there are a thousand other names out there which would bring them far more success than the word "SoftDesigns". I struggle to believe that the search engines are awash with the search term "softdesigns"

Confused from UK.

[ihelpyou]

huh? I just did a search for ... softdesigns... and WW site came up in the first 2 positions?

[MazY]

And did you click on them?

Ditch Radio. So try finding two direct links to the SoftDesigns website. So whilst you could, if you really wanted to be a pedant, say that is part of her site, I think you would be stretching things a tad.

[ihelpyou]

MazY.... I am confused. :confused:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=softdesigns

[MazY]

Yes. I too can use a search engine. The question still remains. Do either of those two links take you directly to the SoftDesigns web site?

[ihelpyou]

Yes. I just clicked on them. What am I missing?

www.softdesigns.net

[MazY]

Right. Unless I am using the Zimbabwe version of Google or something I have:

Searched the web for softdesigns with Safesearch on. Results 1 - 10 of about 268. Search took 0.20 seconds.

Did you mean: soft designs


Ditch Radio Network Splash Page
... NOTE: It has been reported that Netscape 6 has some unfortunate bugs pleased
be advised of this before downloading this version. SoftDesigns.
www.ditch.softdesigns.net/ - 4k - Cached - Similar pages


Home
... Check the link out at: A direct link could be put here to Live 365.
Stay-tuned for further updates and additions! SoftDesigns.
www.ditch.softdesigns.net/home.htm - 3k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from www.ditch.softdesigns.net ]

as the top two entries. Note the ditch.softdesigns.net and not www.softdesigns.net

So, my question remains still, is http://www.softdesigns.net listed in the top 30?

[Web Witch]

....SoftDesigns.com is owned by a company out of CT, I own SoftDesigns.net. The owners of COM are into another field than me and we have an understanding about mail or inquires to forward them to the other party.

I've included in my meta tags the spelling as Soft Designs just incase of entry error; isn't that what you are suppose to do?

I'm confused also because I've run searches on Netscape, Google, GoTo, LookSmart and Lycos and I get top billing....

Ditch is a website I was working on for someone, if you go to the page there is a link to SoftDesigns.net's website.

WW

[MazY]

Now. Even if the www.softdesigns.net was listed #1 to #5 (which it certainly is not) then head over to WordTracker and so a search on "softdesigns". You will see that to say the result is dire is being very conservative. So, I thought to myself "OK, let's pick a totally random word like "butter".

Had they have chosen butter they would be riding on a much more successful search term. Beating softdesigns by hundreds.

So, someone, please remind this simple brain of mine, what the accused spammer could possibly gain from using the word "softdesigns"!?

[ihelpyou]

I do not know what you are seeing. I typed in ... softdesigns... just like that in Google and the first three results are here:

===========

Soft Designs - Online Design for Web Development, Graphic ...
web development,hosting,multi-media,cd/dvd,authoring,director,macromedia,flash,dreamweaver ...
Description: Online design for web development, graphics, hosting and other services.
Category: Computers > Internet > Web Design and Development > Designers > S
www.softdesigns.net/ - 2k - Cached - Similar pages


Graphic Design - SoftDesigns
... Great graphics are the key to a striking web site. SoftDesigns specializes is high
quality graphics for the Internet. From digital photographs, digital video ...
www.softdesigns.net/graphic_design.htm - 7k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from www.softdesigns.net ]


Ditch Radio Network Splash Page
... NOTE: It has been reported that Netscape 6 has some unfortunate bugs pleased
be advised of this before downloading this version. SoftDesigns.
www.ditch.softdesigns.net/ - 4k - Cached - Similar pages

============

Those are the top 3. What am I missing?

[MazY]

Originally posted by Web Witch
Ditch is a website I was working on for someone, if you go to the page there is a link to SoftDesigns.net's website.

Praise the Lord! Finally someone understands that you have links in the top 10 on Google. Your site is not in the top ten! There is a huge difference!

[ihelpyou]

OH!!! I see what you are saying but that is not what WW was saying.

She just simply does not want to be associated with that site. Because they have her bus. name in it, it IS possible that they could come up on search results associated with softdesigns.net

That is all. The site really is not doing themself any good at all by doing that.

[ihelpyou]

Praise the Lord! Finally someone understands that you have links in the top 10 on Google. Your site is not in the top ten! There is a huge difference!

Please call me or something on that one. I still have NO clue as to what you are saying. softdesigns.net is #1 on the word:

softdesigns

[MazY]

Right. So now that is finally sorted out. That leaves the issue of what they will gain? WW wrote that they seem to be trying to reap the rewards of her company name being entered into the web. What rewards? Look on WordTracker! There are no damn rewards!

As already mentioned - they would be better off typing "butter" at the bottom of each page!

[ihelpyou]

No rewards at all but it is possible that someone could type her name in and get that site if the word is on the page. Does them NO good.

[MazY]

Doug

I will send you a screenshot of my Google listing that I see here.

[highman]

the difference and hence the cofusion is caused by having the safe search turned on (advanced search) now, dont ask me why but that is whats doing it....... wierd

from google:

When SafeSearch is turned on, sites and web pages containing pornography and explicit sexual content are blocked from search results. Google strives to keep the filtering information as current and comprehensive as possible through continual crawling of the Web and by incorporating updates from user suggestions. If you find sites that contain offensive content in your results, even with SafeSearch activated, please send an email with the site's URL to safesearch@google.com and we will investigate it.

So web witch why is site deemed 'dodgy' is it because this other site links to you?

[MazY]

Originally posted by ihelpyou
No rewards at all but it is possible that someone could type her name in and get that site if the word is on the page. Does them NO good.


Arrrrgh! <Pulls hair in frustration> But that is not what was intimated. I quote from WW's post -

"so I guess they are hoping to get traffic from the SE's off my name...."

Why would they? It doesn't add up! Microsoft? Yes. Adobe? Yes. RankWrite? Yes. But softdesigns? Come on.

[ihelpyou]

I'm thinking this is simply a UK=USA thingy. You are getting different results.

[ihelpyou]

But they could get traffic from any name if it is on their page. Not sure why they would want it but it is possible.

[MazY]

Originally posted by highman
the difference and hence the cofusion is caused by having the safe search turned on (advanced search) now, dont ask me why but that is whats doing it....... wierd

LOL Thanks highman. Just noticed the "Very helpful member" thing. Creep :D

[Web Witch]

....I can even do a Google search on 'soft designs' and I come out on top.

MazY I did not say that EER was getting any rewards I just don't want them showing up when someone does a search on the name 'softdesigns'. I had been hosting/updating their site for free until they started getting into sleaze and called me an idiot so I immediately took their site down; seems they didn't remember the old adage 'Don't bit the hand that feeds you'.

WW

[MazY]

Hot Damn! Is it me? That is not what you said? Quote again:

"so I guess they are hoping to get traffic from the SE's off my name...."

[ihelpyou]

Could this be our first US-UK language thing? :)

I knew what she meant when it was posted so this is where all the confusion is. :eek:

[highman]

Web witch do you think thats it? is that why you are excluded in safe search 'member' ? that puts out an awful lot of sites....... just like this one..... Doug?

(Rushes off to check his own site which is plastered with the word passion... gulp)

[MazY]

Sorry but I fail to see how it can be. The word "hoping" means the same in the UK and the USA I am assuming.

It intimates that there must be a measure of success from people typing in softdesigns in the search engines. Now, as stated, I fail to see that happening on any large enough scale to bring about any great "hoping".

If anything, it is perhaps my pedantic use of the language to express oneself but the statement simply does not make sense to me.

[highman]

just checked.. im fine

[ihelpyou]

Well, it's like I would not want a site using my name

ihelpyou

on their page either (hidden), whether it was searched on 1 time a month or 100 times, just would not want that site to possibly come up ahead of mine if the word was typed in. That's all.

[highman]

It may be the combination of the words 'member' photo' and 'video'.... poss. If I was you I would be straight on to google.... and please let us know whats causing you to be filtered out.... there are no poronographic links to you either

[ihelpyou]

Now you got me worried about these forums highman. :o:

[highman]

this is something we should investigate, a lot of people search with filtering on.... and i dont want to miss them because of the odd word taken out of context.

WebWitch will you contact google on this and let us know... I would be most interested

Mike

[ihelpyou]

I wonder what the percentages are? I would think that most people just go to www.google.com and do not bother to click on the advanced search.

[MazY]

Originally posted by ihelpyou
just would not want that site to possibly come up ahead of mine if the word was typed in. That's all.

Yes but Doug. Think realistically for a moment. You and I are hardly major businesses that are going to bring in mass-rewards for anyone using your company name or mine. Certainly not at this present moment in time.

So, my original question perhaps should have been, is it really a major controversy? I think not. Hell, I would be flattered if someone thought my company name big enough to bring them any type of reward whatsoever. Sadly, I have yet to reach those dizzy heights.

I think I shall leave this one there in order to save my blood pressure. :)

[ihelpyou]

oh, I agree with you. WW did Not want to be associated with that site though. That is the difference.

It is still spam whenever you have hidden words or links.

[highman]

Your missing the point here..... yes it says softdesigns in black, looking at the code the word is not in there keywords / desc or title, its used once on the page at the bottom. The site code was written by a muppet who prob. just decided to call himself 'softdesign' for the day. The code is awefull and they prob. didnt even realise that they but it in the same colour.

The important bit here is the advanced search feature, how many people use it...... loads, a lot of parents with kids..... I do thats for sure (when the kids are around ;)).... so if I want a website by soft design and I search for it its not there.... no business

Thats worrying....... yet my site which is potentialy a perfect site to filter out (sex related words, but not a sex site) comes up no problem.. wierd

Doug, now you have a problem with your site and safe search ;)

[Web Witch]

....what if someone where to search on the name SoftDesigns and want to see what other sites this search comes up with and happen to run across EER (ElectricEyeRadio) and see the links to sleaze wouldn't you be skeptical to do business with SoftDesigns.

Now this filter thing, I'm a dummy but could in someway my site being filtered out have to do with links on EER's pages to porno, etc?

I'll keep you posted if I hear anything that the SE's are going to do about the problem.


WW

[ihelpyou]

oh, I know that. Have for years. Anyone know percentages? All I know is what my logs tell me.

[MazY]

Originally posted by highman Your missing the point here.....

Are you sure I am? I was under the impression that particular point was introduced very late on in the thread.

With regards to the "point". Not really an issue for me. I always use safe search, always check my work and always therefore check that I exist under my own name. Where is "the point" for me?

God - I'm feeling argumentative tonight. I must check my biothingummies.

[Web Witch]

....yes it says softdesigns in black, looking at the code the word is not in there keywords / desc or title, its used once on the page at the bottom. The site code was written by a muppet who prob. just decided to call himself 'softdesign' for the day. The code is awefull and they prob. didnt even realise that they but it in the same colour. At one point in time my name and link were at the bottom of the pages at EER. When I dumped them someone left my name but blackened it to match the page background but removed the link, that's what I'm assuming anyway. I want in NO way to be associated with EER and I have a sneaky suspicion that this was done intentionally by the owner at EER.

The owner of EER was contacted immediately by me when I discovered my company name was on their pages and I asked them to remove my name from it’s pages but now maybe the spamming reports will set the records/searches straight.

WW

[ihelpyou]

I am not sure most people search that way. I would say not. Also, it does not seem right that if a site simply links to you or has a hidden link to you and that site is porn or something, your site can be taken off the safe list. We really have no control of who or what is linking to us.

[Web Witch]

....
Google is a provider of information, not a mediator. We bring you different web pages that relate to your search request, but we don't make any claims about the content of these pages. For more information, please see our terms of service at http://www.google.com/terms_of_service.html . For these kinds of questions or comments, it is best to directly address the webmaster of the page in question.
--------------------------------
Shouldn't Google have mentioned something about the hidden text on EER's web pages? I have directly address the webmaster of the pages in question and have not received any reply....

WW

[highman]

If someone has the time you can tell how many people search with filter on. The second url below is with safe search on

google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=muppet

google.com/search?hl=en&safe=active&q=muppet&btnG=Google+Search

so a search through your logs for the string 'safe=active' would tell you the amount of google refferals with this option on.

I havnt got time to do it now, cause its friday night and Im going to the pub.... hooray!

Have a nice w/end all

Mike

[ihelpyou]

Yes. THat will tell you the number of hits you get with both, but will not tell you how many searches are actually done on the engine with both.

Hey highman, have a great pub fest! :drink:

[Web Witch]

....
Hello,

You have reached the Directory Support department for:

http://www.yahoo.com

If your request is related to one of our regional directories (e.g.
Yahoo! UK & Ireland, Yahoo! Australia & NZ, Yahoo! France etc.), please
direct your message to the appropriate regional Directory Support
department.

The Directory Support department assists users who are experiencing
problems getting their site or change requests reviewed. Due to the
volume of requests, we are unable to personally respond to each message.
We have included a copy of the guidelines that must be followed before
we will open an inquiry. If your request does not meet these
guidelines, your query will be ignored.

NEW SUBMISSIONS

Commercial Sites -

Please note, our submission process for commercial sites has changed.
All commercial sites must use our fee-based Business Express service.
For information about this program, please go to:

http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/bizex/

Non-commercial Sites -

- For information on how to submit a request, please read our detailed
instructions at:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/suggest/

If you are having a problem finding the "Suggest a Site" link, please
re-read step number 3 on that page.
- Follow all of the guidelines listed on the submission form.
- Please make at least two attempts (several weeks apart) to submit your
site via our online form.
- Do not submit multiple requests in a short period of time for the same
URL. We consider this spamming, and your requests will be dropped from
consideration.

*Yahoo! wants to be as inclusive as possible, but we cannot guarantee
your site will be included in the index, even if you have followed the
guidelines listed above.


CHANGE REQUESTS -

To suggest a change to an existing Yahoo! listing, please fill out the
online change form located at http://add.yahoo.com/fast/change/. If you
are having difficulty getting your listing changed, please make sure
that you are following the guidelines on the Yahoo! change form. If you
do not follow these guidelines, your request may be ignored. Please
keep in mind that Yahoo! makes changes only if a listing is incorrect or
if it is deemed necessary by an editor. We will not make changes to
allow for keywords in a title or comment. We cannot change a listing to
make it show up higher or lower in search results.


SEARCH RESULTS/SITE POSITION REQUESTS -

Please note that site positioning is determined by a complex ranking
algorithm based on relevance, and we cannot change the order in which
sites appear. For more information on how search results are compiled,
please see our search FAQ located at
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/ysearch/ysearch-02.html/.

If you have followed these guidelines, rest assured that your email will
be reviewed--there is no need to send multiple copies of the same
request. Again, due to the large volume of email we receive, we are not
always able to inform you of our decision(s). Please be aware that a
real person reviews all requests; therefore, the review process is not
an immediate one.

For further information, please visit the Directory Support help pages
at:

http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/url/

Thank you for taking the time to read this message.


-Yahoo! Directory Support Team

[MazY]

Originally posted by Web Witch
Shouldn't Google have mentioned something about the hidden text on EER's web pages
WW

Sorry but at the risk of taking this thread in a full circle again, why would they mention that one incident? I have to confess to feeling remarkably dumb at the moment as I simply do not understand the big issue here.

We're hardly witnessing anything revolutionary or new. The chances of people typing in "softdesigns" into the search engines are next to nill so there is no real benefit gained.

All that I am seeing is the raising of an issue that is extremely marginal in possible repercussion. There is real spam out there that make this look positively dismal.

Apologies to all for my apparent non-caring attitude but I am really not getting it at all.

[highman]

indeed i will

cheers :cheers:

[highman]

>There is real spam out there that make this look positively dismal.

Yes I know... sorry I have been 'off on one' about the safe search option making such a difference to results

Any way beer time....

[MazY]

Enjoy yer beer I say! That comes from a non-drinker. :)

[Web Witch]

....this one's on me :drink:

WW

[Web Witch]

....is that you can hide text in your background then Netscape, GoTo, Looksmart, Lycos and Google WON'T penalize you, sheesh....

:drink: yup time for one of those....

WW :thebomb:

[ihelpyou]

Well WW, if a human from one of those did look at the hidden test, they would penalize the site if they thought the site was trying to manipulate the search results.

[Web Witch]

....figure out why my site isn't viewable if someone has a filter on.

WW

[highman]

google should tell you this....

[Web Witch]

....just checked Google and they don't tell you much about filtering, just this:

"Many Google users prefer not to have adult sites included in their search results. Google's SafeSearch screens for sites that contain this type of information and eliminates them from search results. While no filter is 100% accurate, Google's filter uses advanced proprietary technology that checks keywords and phrases, URLs and Open Directory categories.

When SafeSearch is turned on, sites and web pages containing pornography and explicit sexual content are blocked from search results. Google strives to keep the filtering information as current and comprehensive as possible through continual crawling of the Web and by incorporating updates from user suggestions. If you find sites that contain offensive content in your results, even with SafeSearch activated, please send an email with the site's URL to safesearch@google.com and we will investigate it."

Any other suggestions because my pages don't contain pornography or sexual content?

WW

[MazY]

All I know is that it stops an awful lot of rubbish turning up in my search results and I can't remember the last time I ever did a search without it being turned on!

[ihelpyou]

The Google filter is waaaay too strict. It must be picking up any site who is linking to you also. That is Bull. I have no porn either on the site.

Believe it calls for an email to safesearch to get an explanation.

[highman]

>Believe it calls for an email to safesearch to get an explanation.

They should tell you why. Let us know

[Web Witch]

Sure enough, if I turn the filter on you don't see my site listed:mad:

Guess it's time for an email to safesearch@google.com :balling:

WW

[Web Witch]

....Thank you for taking the time to write to us. We'll check out the information you've provided, and take any appropriate actions that may be necessary.

AltaVista is committed to provide the most relevant search results, and reports such as yours help make that possible.

WW

[MazY]

AltaVista? I thought it was Google?

[Web Witch]

Mazy, I sent an email to all the SE email addresses mentioned in this thread this was the reply from AV. So at least they are going to look into the text in the background issue.

WW