Google has updated its Spam and Abuse Resource Center on Google Search Central. It is a welcome update for website owners. These Google updates include more hardy tips to prevent abuse and identify spam accounts instead of concentrating on how to monitor for it.
Preventing Spam and Abuse
Before these Google updates on the page, the first section discussed “free web hosting services.” It has since been replaced by “Prevent abuse on your site and platform.” The previous section focuses on websites that use free hosting services. Even the most secure websites are subject to spam and abuse. The new and improved language provides more content for all website owners to take actionable, preventable steps to protect their websites.
Google offers the following suggestions to help prevent site and platform abuse:
- Tell users that you don’t allow spam on your service
- Identify spammy accounts
- Use manual approval for suspicious user interactions
- Use a blocklist to prevent repetitive spamming attempts
- Block automated account creation
- Monitor your service for abuse
A combination of manual and automated approvals for suspected spam is another new section added to the page. Google provides suggestions for identifying and blocking specific IP addresses and plugins that can help automate the process. You can know more about these update on Google Search Central.
What is the reason behind the change?
Consider how many accounts are created on your website each day. Website owners have had to become more proactive in response to this type of spam. When one kind of spam pattern is blocked, another seems almost immediately.
Manual monitoring costs businesses time, money, and efficiency.
Google has updated its developer guide to be more proactive rather than reactive. Starting with how to prevent abuse in the first place can save businesses a lot of money in the long run.
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Furthermore, Google changed its language to target all website owners, not just those with low-cost or low-budget websites. It’s a more inclusive approach to spam and abuse prevention for everyone.
Final Words
If you are a brand new website owner or have been reacting to spam and abuse, read the Google updates guide on preventing spam and abuse. It gives you more security by providing actionable content and resources to help prevent additional abuse and spam.