Big Brother Google - Has this happened to you?

1. 80

   Aficionadaposted 12 years ago

   Has Google already become Big Brother?  I don't think I like this:
   
   Last night I was conducting some research, trying to find something specific in the HP forums.  Based on previous experience with the HP search function, I decided to use Google as the search engine, which I almost never do. My search involved a phrase with a misspelled word.  I got precisely the search results I needed â�� yay!
   
   When I clicked on the link (from SERP), it took me to the correct forum, but not to the correct post.  Rather than plowing through the entire forum thread, I clicked my Back Button to return to results and get some more specific info about the post. 
   
   So what did Google do?  It made me fill out a CAPTCHA just to return to the search results page on my own computer using my own browser!  It said it (Google) had detected some unusual activity, and so I had to fill that out before I could return to the search results page.  I was floored!  Is this normal? (As I said, I rarely use Google for searching.)
   
   I guess it's a sign that they are trying to protect us from spammers and software programs that eventually lower the value of good writing.  But hey!  I don't like what you're implying about me, Big G!

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2. 70

   Cagsilposted 12 years ago

   I have noticed the same thing. I guess Google is trying to protect itself.
   
   It didn't bother me, as it did you. Oh well.

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3. 80

   Aficionadaposted 12 years ago

   Is it a new thing, or has Google done this all along (and I've simply not known about it)?
   
   And how does it actually protect Google? - I'm not challenging the notion, I'm just puzzled as to the process.

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   1. 71

      livewithrichardposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It's been going on for years though I think its pretty random. I've had it happen to me a few times but I pretty much stay logged into Google now since most of my searching is made with their search engine and with the keyword tool.
      
      It's not just Google that is doing this. Most large sites have some sort of tracking code. Google sees your searches and can detect if your are logged into Facebook and show you results that your friends have also viewed or liked.
      
      Surfing on the net is becoming less and less anonymous as we become more and more social.  It really is a web!!!

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4. 57

   SOEposted 12 years ago

   Its probably a measure used to protect against what is known as search bombing, or basically where certain people will manipulate the suggested auto-form options to display a certain message by using scripts to search the term on Google over and over for hours.
   
   This process eventually can build up thousands of hits for a search term, thus possibly suggesting something offensive or libelous, or unseemly yet truthful depending on whos doing it.
   
   Example:
   John Doe pisses off person A
   Person A decides to google bomb "John Doe is a raging arse"
   Person A searches the term over and over again for days with a script or virus.
   Within weeks or days, enough hits on that search term build up that now when people start to type in "John Doe" the auto-suggestion form will come up with "John Doe is a raging arse" up at the top.
   
   Occasionally you can find these strange auto-suggestions that have some sort of message and seem out of place, chances are they were a successful google bomb.
   
   All you did was probably trigger a captcha used to prevent that tactic, and since its something I haven't heard of yet as a means to prevent google bombing, it's probably a new feature that just misfired.
   
   Definitely not something to be worried about. Your swimming pool, backyard and that time you decided to sunbathe in those flowered shorts you wouldn't want to be seen in public with, showing up on google maps, is probably a more worthwhile concern :p

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5. 75

   Richieb799posted 12 years ago

   Just sounds like maybe when you hit the back button maybe they thought there was an auto-direct or something

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6. 80

   Aficionadaposted 12 years ago

   Thanks, Cags, livewithrichard, SOE, and Richieb!
   
   I'm still reeling a bit from it and from thinking about it.
   
   I only hit the back button one time.  Once!
   
   And, in all my years of using search engines (gettin' pretty old now ) this has never happened before.
   
   Oh well.
   
   I actually do like the idea of safeguards against bad practices.  Who knew that returning to a page of Google results was a bad practice?  LOL   
   
   PS - What's an auto-direct?

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   1. 60

      giselenmendezposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      A couple of weeks ago the same thing happened to me but the problem was that I couldn't even use Google as it kept on asking me to fill out those captchas. I ended up contacting Google using this form http://www.google.com/support/websearch … t_type=ban , I hope it helps, it never happened to me again so I guess they did something after getting my message

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