EmbeddingGemma 2: an open, lightweight multimodal embedding model
deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Lobsters·Jul 27·5 min read
Most Googlebots are fake
TL;DR
Many reports of disruptive traffic attributed to Googlebot are actually caused by fake bots impersonating it. This impersonation can lead to significant website issues, including outages.
✦ Why It Matters
Verify your web traffic sources to distinguish between real and fake Googlebot requests today.
Key Takeaways
- Check user agent headers to identify potential fake bots.
- Use host commands to verify if traffic is from real Googlebot.
- Monitor your website for unusual traffic patterns.
- Consult Google's documentation on handling overcrawling issues.
How It Works
The user agent header is a voluntary identifier that can be easily manipulated. This allows bots to impersonate Googlebot, bypassing security measures designed to limit bot traffic.