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(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick

Thu, Jan 19th 2006 9:56am





Banned Searches In Google And MSN

from the you-can't-handle-the-truth! dept

Someone who prefers to remains anonymous writes "Email Battles has noted in the past that some searches are blocked by Google. Now, they've uncovered another selection of terms that are verboten at both MSN and Google. Of course Google/MSN have their reasons for blocking these searches, but perhaps a bit of transparency is in order. It would be nice to know what searches the Gatekeepers prevent, and why." Last month we mentioned the fact that Google was blocking certain searches, though we thought it was a bit odd (and perhaps a tad on the evil side) that they were misleading people into thinking they had a virus for doing a "bad" search. Google employees, however, shrugged it off. The second link is a little more worrisome. The first issue was mostly about Google trying to stop overzealous search engine optimizers (or, in some cases, search engine spammers). It's understandable that they would want to do that, though it's questionable as to why they feel the need to erroneously tell perfectly innocent people that they have a virus. The second link from Email Battles suggests that both MSN and Google are blocking specific searches to protect information about certain hacks from getting out. Obviously, that's silly. It's a weak attempt at security by obscurity. It won't stop those who really want to know the hacks from getting the info, but could frustrate plenty of legitimate researchers who may get confused as to why Google and MSN know better than they do what they should be able to search for.

10 Comments | Leave a Comment

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  1.  
    identicon
    LAD, Jan 19th, 2006 @ 11:49am

    Why is this fodder?

    So Google and MSN 'reserve the right to refuse service to anyone'. Why should they be treated different than any other business?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    identicon
    BDW, Jan 19th, 2006 @ 12:06pm

    Re: Why is this fodder?

    *** Post removed for pointing people to dangerous sites ***

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    identicon
    ZOMG CENSORED, Jan 19th, 2006 @ 1:06pm

    Re: Why is this fodder?

    Just make sure you're using Firefox at the moment you visit those sites...

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  
    identicon
    rofl, Jan 19th, 2006 @ 1:11pm

    Re: Why is this fodder?

    Yeh else google really would be right in telling you that you have a virus.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  
    identicon
    christopher william hisgen, Jan 19th, 2006 @ 1:42pm

    socalled banned google search

    I just tried the search described in google and it worked.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    identicon
    data64, Jan 19th, 2006 @ 4:48pm

    Understanding the reasons

    It won't stop those who really want to know the hacks from getting the info,

    Obviously not. My understanding of the searches blocked by Google is that it was trying to prevent someone from coming up with a list of sites that are vulnerable to a particular new exploit by using google. I guess they wanted to give the vulnerable sites a little time to get their act together.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  
    identicon
    Mousky, Jan 20th, 2006 @ 6:29am

    Move along. Nothing to see here.

    Your title is misleading and is worded to attract readers to the article. You could have used the words "blocks" or "blocked". The EB article concludes that everything is back to normal, so the search terms are not "banned" or "verboten". Sure, Google could work on better wording, but what is wrong with telling people to run a virus checker or spyware remover? If this was digg I would submit this as lame ;)

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  
    identicon
    thebman990, Jan 20th, 2006 @ 5:30pm

    It's happened to me!

    A few months ago, I was browsing something on google and I had run several queries several seconds apart. They gave me the "you have a virus" message. I just assumed I had run too many queries too quickly, and (I think) I ran the same search again a few seconds later and It let me through, so I don't think specific keywords are blocked. They are just trying to keep malware from DoSing them.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  
    identicon
    xtremest, Jan 21st, 2006 @ 9:19am

    c'mon

    they have right to refuse provide their services to anyone!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  
    identicon
    Jeff, May 11th, 2006 @ 3:38pm

    Right to Refuse Right to Lie

    Sure they have the right to refuse my request, but lying about it is just plain Evil!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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