Educause Security Discussion mailing list archives
Caution: Google filtering spam evidence from returned results
From: Joe St Sauver <JOE () OREGON UOREGON EDU>
Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2003 12:30:08 -0800
Hi, If, like many of us, you use Google to investigate potential online miscreants, you should be aware that Google is now employing Bayesian techniques to filter spammy-looking folks from their results. The net impact of this is that a domain may appear LESS spammy than reality because Google has filtered spam-related stuff pertaining to them. Ironically, of course, the more spammy a domain may happen to be, the more likely they are to have evidence of their misbehavior "sanitized." :-( Thus, if you hear, as I have, "Well, what do you mean this guy is a spammer? I just checked Google and I don't see complaints about him at all..." Yeah. Well. That very well may be BECAUSE he's a spammer, and all stuff related to him/his domain has all been filtered. See: http://www.isedb.com/news/index.php?t=reviews&id=578 http://sethf.com/anticensorware/general/google-spam.php I'm hoping that Google will offer an un-spam-filtered view as well as a default spam-filtered view, much as they offer a kiddie-safe view and an unfiltered view. If they don't, their utility as a research tool in the fight against spam and related system and network compromises has really been reduced. Regards, Joe ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Discussion Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/cg/.
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- Caution: Google filtering spam evidence from returned results Joe St Sauver (Dec 13)