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Platinax Internet >> Platinax Internet News
September 30, 2004Paypal: new site design and phishingPaypal currently looks like this:
It's be interesting as to whether there will be any changes to functionality. And it's worth repeating - NEVER CLICK ON A LINK IN A PAYPAL E-MAIL - because the link is certainly not a link to Paypal, but a spoofed link to another website. The site will look like Paypal's, but it isn't - and it will record whatever confidential information you enter in, only to be reused to whatever whims, intents and purposes, that the webmaster phishing you has. I actually fell for one the other night - I'm in the process of setting up a business Paypal account, it was late - and it was my first ever phishing e-mail (and surely not my last). Luckily, I realised exactly what I'd done just after signing in and immediately e-mailed Paypal and changed my Paypal password twice. Anyway - just be careful of phishing e-mails for any bank or merchant processor. In the meantime I'll be happy to see in Paypal's new site design with my new Paypal business account. :)
Posted at 08:50 PM
The Google Sandbox: the definitive guideOn the Search Engine Watch forums, the moderator Nacho made a good list of resources here regarding the Google Sandbox. Effectively, with one of my earlier resource lists included from that site, here's the definitive guide to the Google Sandbox, so far as I've seen it properly followed in the public arena: Google Sandbox Timeline: April 19th April 25th May 4th May 6th Later May 2004 May25th June 2004:
An interesting point of note is that the issue primarily seems reported by the heavy link builders - people who focussed more on content seem to dispute the Google Sandbox existing. That helps suggest that the issue is primarily a links-based issue. As has been raised elsewhere, however, if the sandbox is a blanket issue for new links, then how do established sites get new content indexed and ranked so quickly? Perhaps "affiliated links" - ie, internal links and cross linking from related domains - is somehow unaffected. Or perhaps the age of a domain has an important role to play in the evaluation of links in general, as much as or in lieu of the links themselves? Also, a problem is that *if* links in general are being impacted, then the effect will be so much harder to see on established sites that already have a lot of backlinks - any sandbox impact is going to be diluted in the general established linkage. Either way, when targeting Google rankings - regardless the age of the site, I'd rather advise all clients expect to wait 12-14 weeks before seeing any noticable effect. Generally, I imagine many SEO's will advise their clients of this anyway. Posted at 08:16 PM
Yahoo! searchGreg R Notess gives Yahoo! search a fairly comprehensive examination in his paper Review of Yahoo! search. Definitely worth a read if you've been so focussed on Google for traffic, that you pay far less attention to other major search engines than you should - myself included. Posted at 10:59 AM
September 29, 2004PPC fraud: are you worried?If you're involved in PPC management, you almost certainly should have heard of "click-fraud". In fact, you might even have encountered some rather suspicious click-though rates, as the SEW forums moderator Sebastian mentions here. However, what you should be more particularly worried about is that mediapost reports here that Clicklab - a web analytics provider - is encountering click fraud rates of over to 50%. If you're in PPC management, are you worried? Posted at 10:46 PM
Google shares top tradingWell, if you risked buying stock in the Google IPO, you'd be laughing if you sold today: According to Reuters, reported here: Google's stock touched $127.40 before finishing the Nasdaq session up $8.60, or almost 7.3 percent, to $126.86 -- a gain of almost 50 percent from the company's mid-August initial public offering price of $85. Posted at 10:01 PM
Google's new GooglebotThere's plenty of talk about Google's new Googlebot visiting websites: Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; Googlebot/2.1; http://www.google.com/bot.html) It's been suggested that the Googlebot might be parsing Javascript and other scripting methods normally used to hide links from search engines. However, in this thread at DigitalPoint, Shaun makes a point of commenting that it's using the HTTP 1.1 protocol, as the Googlebot/Test did - but it seems to be spidering normally, albeit from an IP range he normally associates with Google Adsene's MediaPartner's bot. Dirk of fantomaster, one of the biggest providers of cloaking software, and who personally has to put up with tracking bots across nearly 10,000 websites, had this to say on the Search Engine Watch forums: During the last 2 weeks we noticed lots of new spiders (about 200) coming from 3 new IP ranges: It's interesting to note that Brett Tabke at WebmasterWorld recently commented that Google was "panic-indexing" the internet - effectively, building a new index from scratch. With the PR update drought still in process, it'll be interesting to see if these changes in Google indexing are indicative of a major new update in the pipeline... Posted at 09:56 PM
The Importance of BackupsIt's a sad fact of the webhosting industry that hosts go down on a regular basis. It could be a harddrive failure, other hardware failure, security failure, network failure, general datacenter failure - any number of issues. Point is, although some hosts get up, others do not. And no matter how the issues involved are addressed, the simple fact is that you could lose data. You will almost certainly have static files saved on your own harddrive - you probably had to make sure you had local copies to upload. Do ensure you burn those copies to CD or DVD. However, the real problem is with dynamic files, not least databases. Forums, directories, shopping cart lists - they are particularly vulnerable to webhosting failures. Because when the host goes down, you can often find that all you have left of your database is your last saved copy. When was the last time you saved your online databases? You should absolutely ensure you save them on a regular basis - every few days at least where the database information changes or is added to on a regular basis. For example, such as this news blog. That way, in the event of a hosting failure, you can at least recover fairly up to date information, and minimise your losses. What's that? Your host does regular backups? Well, that may well be - but what you probably aren't aware of is that web hosting companies are not making individual backups of your individual files - they are making large backups of the entire hardrive. They are effectively ensuring that they can recover fairly up to date information for the hardrive if it needs to be replaced. Also, be aware that most hosts do not guarantee backups anyway - and just because your files may be recoverable from the host company's backup, does not mean to say that your files can be recovered. Hosting companies may not offer backups of your individual files, even if they have a general backup of the hardrive. Ultimately, your own backups are your own responsibility. If you don;t learn that now, then you open yourself up to learning the hard way. That's how many people learned they had to make regular backups. That's how I learned. I've had servers breakdown on me twice, with difference companies. The first time, I nearly lost everything on it. The second time, I at least had backups to rebuild with. But the point does need emphasising for general web users: If you lose your data because you do not have backups, you only have one person to blame. You. You have been clearly warned. Posted at 03:46 PM
September 28, 2004E-marketing NewsI'm currently reading Mike Grehan's Search Engine book, and it's a very enlightening exploration of how search engines work, packed with very useful information. The worst part of it is that I'm reading the Second Edition, which basically covers up to 2001 in great detail, with only a few sections updated since then - though a Third Edition is apparently due very soon, and I will definitely be reading that, The point of this post though is to point out Mike Grehan's other site, E-marketing News, because that also appears to contain a lot of useful information - and it's all free, too. One of Mike's key strength's is that he has made a point of interviewing a number of people within the search engine industry itself - the develops and managers of search engines. For example, check out the April 2004 archive, for an interview with Jon Glick, head of Yahoo! search...
Posted at 07:04 PM
The SE friendly CMSNick W takes a moment to share one of those rare SEO secrets, in this thread entitled Installing a Powerful - SE Friendly CMS in 10mins. In short, he highly recommends using Drupal, with "clean URLs" selected in the admin options. I'm going to have to test that out and see how it works. But you can be sure, if it does work, and it's a great SE solution, then most of the people reading this news entry will completely fail to attempt to use this tip anytime within the next couple of months. I've seen it happen before, when John Scott at v7n recommended using Xaraya for similar purposes. Posted at 06:57 PM
Bob Massa on search enginesA thread at the Search Engine Watch forums raised the subject of a "Scalable Topic-Based Open Source Search Engine", and the methods being mooted for developing a more relevant algorithm. Somewhere among the tracking of information on what the project was up to, and what bots were used - which can be found in this thread here - Bob Massa, of SearchKing fame, suddenly stepped in and stated a couple of home-truths that absolutely require repeating here. When someone on the thread asked (regarding an open source search engine): "How would they deal with the fact that people would look at the algo and optimize for it though?" That is how it should of been from the very beginning. Optimizing your site should not be a bad thing. Every webmaster SHOULD optimize their sites. Optimizing your site does not a spammer make. Optimizing your site just makes you a better webmaster.
Posted at 06:16 PM
Microsoft offer Wiki to open sourceFrom CNet News: "Microsoft said Monday that it is dipping a third toe into the open-source waters, adding a collaborative creation program to the list of Microsoft efforts that the company is freely sharing. Microsoft has a chequered past history with open source, withdrawnig from various UN groups for pushing open source over Microsoft products, else were being pushed to offer more to open source development. It's interesting to note the CNET News article also mentions that Microsoft has also opened up parts of its Office code for Governments and Universities. Posted at 06:09 PM
Microsoft and Amazon vs Internet CrimeCNET news reports here that Microsoft and Amazon have teamed up to launch combined lawsuits directed at specified individuals, who are seen to be major players in practices such as e-mail spam and address spoofing, as well as phishing. According to the article: "The companies said they hope to eliminate the scams, which have become a nuisance to both of their customer bases, by asserting their combined and sizable influence, while working together to test technological barriers that they believe may prevent future criminal activity." Gold Disk Canada is the only company specifically named, though a number of un-named individuals are also apparently targeted. Amazon apparently launched 11 law-suits last year, but only 4 were claimed by Amazon Vice President, David Zapolsky, to have been concluded in a manner satisfactory to Amazon, with some of the companies targeted defaulting during the legal process. Posted at 06:00 PM
Nvidia and ATI target mobilesAccording to this report, Nvidia and ATI have apparently been developing graphics chips specifically for the mobile markets with some success. Although ATI's Imageon 2300 had been showcased earlier this year, Nvidia have now demonstrated a chip - named GoForce - for mobile technologies, which can run full 3D graphics and streaming video at three megapixels.
Posted at 04:32 PM
Hotmail charges for OutlookToday it was announced that Microsoft's Hotmail e-mail service would no longer allow free download of Hotmail e-mails to Outlook Express, or other e-mail clients. Apparently up to 18 million users could be affected, but Microsoft chiefs insist that the move is necessary to fight abuse of their free e-mail service, and their general strategy against spam. the story is well-covered here: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/security/0,39020375,39167937,00.htm Posted at 04:26 PM
Security threat to the internet growing"More than 30,000 PCs per day are being recruited into secret networks that spread spam and viruses" - Symantec That's just one of the conclusions raised by Symantec in their biannual Internet Threat Report, which attempts to trace trends in internet security. This is an increase from 2,000 machines a day from 6 months ago. However, the figures do include the high infection rates caused by the MyDoom vs Beagle worm war, that occured earlier in the year. Either way, net security has become am issue that businesses absolutely ignore at their own dire risk.
Posted at 04:19 PM
Virgin enters music onlineSeems that interplanetary space isn't enough for Richard Branson - he wants to enter cyberspace in a big way, too. More specifically, Virgin have launched Virgin Digital in the US, competing with other new arrivals on the market, such as Yahoo and Microsoft. Virgin may have an interesting advantage in this market, with already owning a record label and a chain of music stores. The internet is almost certainly the logical "next step" for Virgin's ongoing consumer marketing. Posted at 04:08 PM
Staff shortage loosens screwfix.comNow here's an example of over-expansion coupled with staffing problems. Screwfix.com has apparently been unable to recruit the full compliment of 550 staff for its warehouse departments. Because of this, the company has had to suspend online ordering for at least a week. I'm sure the 520 staff they axed a couple of months of ago will be very understanding of screwfix.com's problems. More on that story here. Posted at 04:02 PM
The Decline and Fall of the Housing MarketI've already covered in the Platinax Internet Community Forums the issues of the UK housing market being over-valued. An report published here earlier this month, showed that the housing market was slowing. And the IMF has warned that UK house prices could come crashing down. Now the British Bankers' Association (BBA) has showed that new mortgages were down over a fifth this August, in comparison to mortgages awarded a year earlier. I think it's pretty safe to say that the UK housing market has now effectively peaked, and that what we face now is "downhill pricing", as the market readjusts and returns to a more sustainable level. However, with oil prices causing considerable pressure on the Global Economy, it remains to be seen how badly the downhill pricing is going to be - slow and steady, staggered - or even freefall? The impact on the world economy of oil price increases coupled with a downturn on the housing markets of numerous countries, can only suggest possible recession around the corner. You have been plainly warned. Posted at 03:50 PM
Virgin to enter space?It seems that balloons don't go high enough for Richard Branson. He's apparently signed a deal with Scaled Composites - a forerunner to the X-Prize, the race into making viable people carriers reach the boundaries of space and return safely. The new Virgin venture aims to send the first space tourists into space, using the Scaled Composites technology. This has already been named Virgin Galactic. What can I say? Book early or face dispointment. :) Posted at 03:44 PM
How to lose customers fastCallers to the complaints were greeted by the abuse from someone using a north-eastern accent. The message, littered with four letter words, ended with the claim: "We are not going to handle any of your complaints... leave us alone, get a life." -------------------------------------------------------------------- And how would you receive this message? By calling the NTL complaints line, apparently, as reported here at the BBC. According to NTL, a recorded phone message was altered by a disgruntled employee. It's hardly good publicity for NTL, who were apparently named in September as "one of the UK's worst companies for customer service" by the Institute of Customer Service. Bad employee morale? Bad publicity.
Posted at 02:51 PM
US oil over $50 per barrel: Global Economy warningThe price of oil from the US has risen over the $50 mark. This reflects the serious problem of increasing global demand (not least from China), coupled with problems with production - an insurgency in Nigeria; hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico stifling US output; the continued crisis in Iraq as pipelines are targeted; plus of course Western oil workers being targeted with shootings and bombings in Saudi Arabia. What does this mean? It means we are looking at a major brake being applied to the Global Economy. Coupled with the over-valued housing problems in many Western countries, not least here in the UK, means that the world is literally teetering over the precipe of a new recession. Economic inertia makes it almost a certainly that markets are going to be impacted - the question is simply a matter of scale. How quickly issues relating to oil supply and demand is going to be a key factor in that. The BBC provides a pretty excellent summary of the problems here. More later...
Posted at 12:26 PM
September 27, 2004TestThis is just a general test post, to see how this blog behaves. Posted at 08:04 PM
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