Have you ever clicked on a link, expecting to land on one webpage, only to find yourself mysteriously redirected elsewhere? If so, you may have encountered one of the web’s sneakiest tricks: redirects.
What are Sneaky Redirects?
Sneaky redirects are known for their deceptive nature. They trick search engine crawlers or indexers into believing that a specific page serves as the destination when, in reality, the page displayed is entirely different, often displaying spam ads or even installing cookies in their browsers.
Similar to traditional links, redirects contain a URL pointing to the destination page. Search engine indexers use this URL to determine the redirection path for visitors.
A reroute becomes sneaky when it sends search engine indexers and visitors to separate pages. While visitors view one page after the reroute, Google crawlers encounter a different one.
Sneaky vs. Legitimate Redirects
Not all reroutes are deceiving.
Legitimate reroutes such as 301 or 302 redirects ensure that search engine indexers and visitors end up on the same page they intended to visit. In contrast, sneaky reroutes operate differently, directing users and search engine indexers to different pages.
How do Sneaky Redirects Happen?
Sneaky reroutes often use cloaking techniques in two primary forms: IP-based and user agent-based cloaking. IP-based cloaking sends users to alternative pages depending on their IP address. In contrast, user agent-based cloaking sends users to pages based on their user agent.
Regardless of the method used, IP-based and user agent-based cloaking can lead to search engine crawlers and visitors encountering different pages after rerouting.
Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how it works:
User Clicks a Link: It all begins when a user clicks on a link, usually found on a webpage, in an email, or through a search engine result.
Intended Destination: The user expects to be taken to a specific webpage or website based on the anchor text or context of the link they clicked.
Behind the Scenes: Unknown to the user, the link they clicked may be embedded with code that triggers a diversion.
Redirect Code: This code is programmed to divert the user’s browser from the intended destination to a different webpage altogether.
Invisible to Users: Importantly, the redirection process is often invisible to users, who may not realize they’ve been rerouted until they land on the unexpected page.
Different Content: The rerouted page may contain content that varies significantly from what the user expects. This content might be irrelevant, misleading, or even harmful.
Understanding Why Individuals Employ Sneaky Redirects
Sneaky Redirects in Prohibited Niches
People employ sneaky reroutes when they can’t advertise certain niches on platforms like Google Ads. Google Ads has rules about what kinds of products or services can be advertised.
For example, pharmaceuticals, gambling or betting inappropriate content, dangerous products, and misleading content are some categories restricted by Google Ads policies. So, if someone wants to promote one of these niches, they might trick the system by concealing the URL with a diversion that sends visitors to a different website that might offer prohibited products or services.
Using Sneaky Redirects for SEO
People may use sneaky reroutes to trick Google into thinking that a trustworthy website (one with high Domain Authority or DA) links to a shady or banned niche website. They do this because Google often positions websites higher if they have lots of trustworthy sites linking to them.
By utilizing sneaky reroutes, they try to make Google think that their shady website is trustworthy, so it appears higher in search results. For example, a casino page uses a medical site’s high DA to rank better on Google.
Why are Sneaky Redirects Harmful?
Sneaky reroutes can cause Googlebot to skip following the intended link and index the original page instead. Meanwhile, users are directed to another page whose content may remain hidden from the web crawler.
This practice violates Google Webmaster Guidelines, which prohibit serving different content to users compared to what’s shown in search engine results. This also includes displaying varied content based on the user’s platform, such as redirecting mobile users to a different page than desktop users.
These reroutes can be web attribution fraud, especially when manipulating affiliate ad networks through cookie fraud. For instance, affiliate ad hijackers might place a brand’s ad in the search engine results pages (SERPs), then guide users through a series of masked reroutes to conceal their activity and claim referral credit before leading them to the official brand’s site.
Mobile sites, especially those involved in WAP-click affiliate programs, are often associated with sneaky reroutes. For years, Google has penalized mobile sites for redirecting users from the SERP to undesired or entirely different spam domains.
How Do Sneaky Redirects Affect Search Engine Rankings?
Sneaky reroutes can impact your site’s search engine visibility in multiple ways.
Google evaluates pages based on what their crawlers can access. They assume visitors will view the same page after clicking a link or being redirected. However, with sneaky reroutes, visitors are directed to a different destination page than Google expects.
This can lead to issues with search engine placement. While Google may still rank the initial page, it won’t rank the true destination page where visitors are redirected. If indexers encounter a page with minimal or irrelevant content, they may rank it poorly for the targeted keywords.
Employing sneaky reroutes can result in a reprimand from Google. If your website is found using these reroutes, it may face consequences, including manual penalties from Google. Google imposes punitive measures for various violations, including sneaky reroutes.
Google distinguishes between two types of manual penalties for sneaky reroutes: those related to cloaking-based redirects and those specific to mobile-only redirects. If Google identifies such reroutes on your website, it may impose one of these punitive measures.
The Many Tricks of Sneaky Redirects
Often, web pages contain ads or elements strategically placed, prompting users to click and redirect to entirely different sites unintentionally. Such reroutes can inflate a site’s bounce rate by steering users away from their intended destinations.
In many cases, redirected pages have spam content that is irrelevant and of inferior quality compared to the initially indexed page viewed by Google.
Snippets can also mislead users. Google wants users to land on pages shown by the search result snippet, but sneaky reroutes go against this.
Sneaky mobile redirects, a common occurrence, may be used by site owners with deceptive intent or by hackers and spammers without the owner’s knowledge. These redirects can be implemented through various methods:
– Using scripts or elements like JavaScript to direct users to undesirable websites.
– Adding code with rules that mandate mobile users to be directed to completely different pages.
– Hiding links in JavaScript code to redirect users to unrelated sites.
– Employing scripts to display sneaky advertisement redirects, such as popups.
Another tactic involves a shady publisher (e.g., a hacker) purchasing a domain with a common misspelling of a popular site or advertiser. Users could mistakenly type the incorrect domain URL and briefly visit the fake website.
The malicious publisher can put a tracking cookie on your web browser and guide you to the intended website. Due to this cookie, the affiliate program will credit the malicious site whenever the user buys something from the actual website.
How to Spot Redirects
On Your Website
A simple way to determine if your website has a sneaky redirect is by checking Google Search Console. If there’s an issue, you’ll get a Manual Action Report. The issue detected manually can be either sitewide or partial.
It’s highly beneficial for Google to alert you if your site has been affected because hackers can potentially conceal sneaky reroutes from webmasters, continuously diverting their visitors.
The message ‘No webspam manual actions found’ means no penalties have been given, and there’s no risk of traffic dropping.
If your website has been hacked, you’ll see a notice in the ‘Manual actions’ or ‘Safety problems’ section. Cybercriminals might have changed files or added spammy content, usually hidden under cloaking.
Another option is to check your website manually by searching for it on Google using a mobile phone or your computer’s web browser. This approach allows you to explore all your pages and evaluate the overall user experience.
Monitoring user activity and analytics on your site is also useful for detecting suspicious behavior. Pay particular attention to metrics such as average time spent on your site or the duration of user sessions on specific pages, like the landing page.
The Fetch as Googlebot tool, which you can find in Google Search Console, helps you check if Google can reach a website link and see how it shows web pages. This tool is invaluable for determining whether content appears normally to Google compared to your own viewing experience.
On Another Site
Imagine browsing the internet, clicking on links, and suddenly being redirected to a different website. Sometimes, these sneaky reroutes can lead you to a dangerous place.
Here’s what might happen:
1. Malicious Websites: These redirects might take you to websites that aren’t safe. Some websites can secretly inject harmful software, like malware, into your computer without you knowing.
2. Malware Download: When you’re redirected, you might accidentally download malware onto your computer. This software can steal your personal information or mess up your computer’s system. So to avoid this, make sure to use a command to show library folder on Mac and review the Finder app to locate any suspicious downloads.
3. Building Botnets: The people behind these reroutes may be trying to infect many computers to create a botnet. A botnet is like an army of infected computers that is controlled remotely. They can be used to launch cyberattacks, send spam emails, or steal information. That’s why it’s important to be careful when browsing online and to have good antivirus software to help protect your computer from these threats.
How to Fix them
Addressing sneaky reroutes is imperative to safeguard your website’s search engine positioning. All redirects on your website should lead search engine indexers and visitors to the same destination page. If it fails to do so, it should be replaced with a legitimate one.
How can you determine which page search engine indexers see after redirection? Use a URL inspection tool. Google provides one in its Search Console portal, while Bing offers a similar tool in its Webmaster Tools portal.
By inputting the link of the redirect’s destination page into these tools, you can assess the page from the perspective of Google indexers.
I suggest entering the same link into your web browser to gauge how visitors perceive the page. Remove the redirect if the page differs from the one displayed in the Link inspection tool.
You can either delete it permanently or substitute it with a legitimate redirect that directs both Google and visitors to the same page.
Rectifying sneaky redirects that triggered a manual penalty has an extra step. After replacing all sneaky redirects with legitimate ones, request a review in the Console.
If your website incurred a manual penalty for sneaky redirects, it will have diminished organic rankings on Google until resolved. Google only restores your website’s rankings after conducting a review.
However, Google does not initiate a review automatically; you must request one in Google Console. Manual penalties, along with the option to request reviews, are located in the ‘Manual actions’ section of Google Console. Identify all sneaky redirect manual actions in this section and opt to request a review.
Although it may take several weeks, once Google verifies that your website no longer contains sneaky redirects, it will lift the restrictions.
Do not allow sneaky redirects to undermine your website’s search engine position. Even if they were unintentional, remove and replace them with legitimate redirects. Once resolved, your website will have the opportunity to climb up the organic search results without repercussions.
Protecting Yourself: Installing Antivirus Software
One of the best ways to stay safe online and avoid sneaky redirects is by installing antivirus software on your computer or mobile device. Antivirus programs like Avast or Malwarebytes act as your digital bodyguards, constantly scanning websites and files for any signs of danger.
How antivirus software helps:
1. Real-Time Defense: Antivirus software runs in the background, identifying and blocking access to websites known for sneaky redirects and virulent content.
2. Malware Detection: It actively hunts down and removes viruses, spyware, and ransomware, which are often spread through sneaky redirects.
3. Safe Browsing Features: Many antivirus solutions offer safe browsing features, warning you before you stumble upon harmful websites or links.
4. Phishing Protection: Antivirus tools help foil phishing attempts by flagging suspicious websites attempting to steal your data via sneaky redirects.
Conclusion
Identifying and dealing with sneaky redirects is vital to keep your website trustworthy and effective. These sneaky tactics confuse users and break search engine rules, which can lower your site’s rank.
Understanding sneaky redirects and watching out for them can help you stop their adverse effects on your site. Fixing them protects your website’s reputation and keeps it competitive. Stay alert and proactive to keep sneaky redirects from harming your website’s success.
