Google's Webmaster Warrant: Punitive Measures for Breadcrumbs Busters
Algorithms set to prioritize legitimate sites, ensnaring hijackers come June
Google's impending crackdown on back button hijacking has long been expected, but its June implementation is a telling indicator of the search giant's expanding arsenal of webmaster vetting tools. As first reported by Ars Technica, Google will soon start penalizing websites that use cunning redirects to hijack browser navigational cues.
Browser hijacking, a tactic often employed by malvertisers and sketchy online ad brokers, involves placing a script on a website that misinterprets click events, directing users away from their intended destination. This sleight of hand can result in unwitting users downloading malware or encountering phishing sites.
By leveraging its dominance of the search engine market, Google has long stood as gatekeeper to proprietary webmaster tools and best practices. Its coming punitive measures will target sites that warrantlessly override user browser behavior, essentially imposing a protocol of unconscious paternalism on users. The implications are stark: what constitutes an 'abuse' of users' online rights, and to what extent should Google empower its curatorial authority to police user behavior on the web?
In the months leading up to the June rollout, webmasters should expect warnings and reprimands for abuse. Consequences for infractions will be severe, and continued HTTP REFERRER hijacking may have grounds for complete blocking or blacklisting.
