Rob Eberhardt

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Submitted to http://www.google.com/contact/spamreport.html

Exact query that shows a problem (copy this from the Google search box):
Technet Plus -vs- Action Pack

Resulting Google page that shows problem (copy the Google URL):
http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGLS_enUS291&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=Technet+Plus+-vs-+action+pack

The specific web page or site that is misbehaving: Type(s) of problem (check all that apply):
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Microsoft/Applications/Q_23272956.html

Type(s) of problem (check all that apply):
Cloaked page

Additional details:
To Firefox or Internet Explorer user-agent strings, http://www.experts-exchange.com/Microsoft/Applications/Q_23272956.html shows its registration page. "View this solution now by starting your 7-day free trial..." at the bottom under Accepted solution. The real answer content is NOT on the page.

But when I switch my browser's UA string to Googlebot, it shows the real answer content which was in the Google search results. This is deceptive to users, dilutes Google's search relevance, and and violates your Webmaster Guidlines at http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=66355

NOTE: SOMEtimes Experts-exchange.com DOES show the answer at the bottom, so please test from a variety of IPs and browsers.

Interestingly, it's no new problem and Google is aware of but ignoring it? Maybe if more people fill out the form to complain...?

9/23/2008 2:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time