How Google Detects AdSense Invalid Clicks
Still thinking to cheat AdSense? Stop that. It will never bring you anywhere. You might pull it off with smaller ads network, but definitely not with Google. Here are some detection methods they might use. At the very least, they have the resources to do so.
IP Address
If the AdSense click is originated from the same IP Address as the one used for accessing your AdSense account, your account is flagged.
Cookies
Most home users do not use static IP Address for Internet connection. In most cases just disconnect and reconnect will give you a new IP Address. But don’t forget, Google has set cookies on your computer.
Other Google Services
Thinking that you are safe just because you do not access your AdSense account? Think again. This time, consider these: GMail, Google Earth, Google Calendar, Google Search, Google Toolbar, Google Talk, Google Sitemap, Google Desktop, Blogger, and so on, and so on. With the wide range of services they provide, Google can trace the originator of most (or probably almost all) clicks.
Click Pattern 1
Oh, why this computer / IP address / person is so trigger-click-happy on this particular website but never click on the ads on other sites?
Click Pattern 2
And why is it that people accessing these sites direct (type-in URL or from bookmark) tend to be very active ad-clickers compared with those referred from search engine or other sites?
Click Pattern 3
And why the ad-clickers like to hit and run, compared with non ad-clickers that surf a few pages before leaving?
Click-Through-Rate (CTR)
Your CTR may range from 0.5% to 10%, but if it exceeds a certain point (probably around 10%), you are flagged.
Geo-Location
Used Urchin (Google Analytics) before? Then you should know that Google can trace traffics origin down to the small town. Different IP doesn’t mean much. Unless you site is really targetted to one small geo-point, a high number of clicks from nearby location will get you banned quickly.
Hardware address?
MAC address of the LAN card, modem, and router works almost like a fingerprint. I’m not sure if Google can track this, but probably they do. They have rocket scientist, remember?
Advertisers conversion rate
Ad click is one thing. But does it bring value to the advertisers? If none of the clicks on your site translate to conversion to the advertiser, you are in trouble. First the Smart-Pricing hits, then your AdSense account disabled.
Search Engine Ranking
Your website is not indexed on any search engine, not linked by any prominent website, but get consistently high traffic? That sounds like something is in play. Regardless of whether it is an adware-embedded software, spam, trojan clickbot, or intentionally installed click-exchange network, it doesn’t sound right.
Webpage design
How about the “click here” or “support us”? Google has the best search engine in the world. Is it really that hard to find those words?
Combo
Each of these detection methods might seem rather weak. But combine them together, and not many click-fraud can pass-through these filters. Even the smartest clickbot will have a hard time.
In short, it is almost impossible to cheat AdSense in the long term. Instead of spending time, money, and effort trying to outsmart Google, try these tips to improve your AdSense earning.
Disclaimer : I’m not working for Google nor in anyway know anyone inside Google. Google might or might not use these methods to detect click-fraud. I’d believe that they have much better detection mechanism.
Cheatad ! SEO, Google Adsense & Technolgy Blog
Great post as usual, only one niggle – the MAC Address will not be visible to Google unless you are on the same LAN segment as them
MAC Addresses are not re-transmitted by routers so the MAC Address of your router/modem is only visible to the next router in the link, usually your ISP.
Hi, Peter. I was not sure about that point too. Thanks for clarifying.
No problem Fernando
So because you have ““click here” or “support us”” in your article (and now in this comment), do you think Google will flag your site for it? That’d be ironic.
That sounds logical, but Google prides it’s search engine ability to calculate location and context of text in the pages. Thus, probably they know the text does not refer to asking visitors to click on the ads.
Besides, they have human reviewers, that probably come to your site after a number red flags.
Hi Fernando, This is the first time, I’m reading your blog… Great one!!! I’m inserting your URL in my feedreader now…
The “Geolocation” point is absolutely true and I guess Google must work strongly on this point…
Good one, frd!!!
How about writing an article about how to cram the maximum possible # of Google ads into every page?
One thing you got wrong is that google makes money from fake clickers. So its not google that is looking for frauds… but the advertisers. Google lets them self-police. Google will not touch your account or care much about anything you just mentioned until they get a compaint from advertisers. Google makes over $300 million a year from fraud clicks… tell me they dont want that money.
Great Report!!!
Just tell me what if CTR is more than 10% even if the clicks are genuine? What if there are genuine conversions too? How google tracks these conversions?
Fernando, don’t take this the wrong way, but you sound like a loser. That is, you have a very defeatist attitude which will always ensure that you will lose. Just because you were unable to cheat Google doesn’t mean that no one can. Unless you delete this post (which you probably will) I want others to know that it IS possible to win. I’m living proof. And I’m no computer genius. I’m just persistent and thorough… and I refuse to lose. I hope some of you out there will join me. It takes guts, but you can do it.
Iv read many people saying dont fraud google and stuff like that but there is one way they always forget to mention… Ever heard of a proxy. They are google’s nightmare. If you click your ads through a proxy google will not be able to trace it to you and you could scam thousands a month off them. If you clicked your own ads all day and made false impressions you could get thousands a day. Just thought you guys might like to know this
Sam,using a proxy is not enough and google can easily track you because google adsense works only if your java script is on, and if its on then google can track your computer,operating system,local time zone,lenguage and most of all dont forget about INDEX.DAT file that store all information about your surfing. But I guarantee you that there is a way to all this.(sorry for my English)
Thanks Peter about MAC address.
Good things about AdSense revealed in this article, I was not aware of these. Thanks for clarifying.
yaaaaaaaaaa i used to click fraud then i got banned but damn i made alot of money
oh yeaah.
Good comments. Please don’t cheat google. They are trying to help you get some income. Be creative and you will make alot of cash.
100000$ if any 1 attack google office at
200000 if presdint od google got killed
we can get u after the work
”
yaaaaaaaaaa i used to click fraud then i got banned but damn i made alot of money
oh yeaah.
Comment by yo 08.29.08 @ 9:48 pm ”
Well you didnt receive the money once you click fraud they stop payment and disable account. you can not even cash the checks If you received it
And even MAC addresses can be spoofed
First Good Article with good information. I have told people myself some of these to stop asking for people to click their ads, just take the time to promote, promote and also do things like this, comments on other sites.
Second, YES Mac addresses can be traced through the routers, I know this because I learned how to do this when I was in school for my Computer Network Engineer Associates degree. Routers Mac Addresses are tracable. Those do not need to be on the same LAN. The ones the can only see when on the same LAN are the computers in that NETWORK.
Third great artical thank you for the link to the tips.
Thanks dude you have answered my question well. But I guess Google can target ads based on vistor to the site ,instead of site content which gives more chance of ad conversion rate.Check this http://gazolinia.blogspot.com/2009/05/google-adsense-new-targetting-technique.html
Great article… I was clicking on one or two ads from my site because genuinely I found them interesting. I even bought something from them. It sounded odd that they would flag me for that. But now that I know, I’ll never do it again!
Now, visit my website and click on my ads so I can at least earn enough to buy a cup of coffee! lol oh! specially on weekends! lol
Hi frd, your geo-location tracking Idea is the best.
Yup google has strong command over this.
Can someone tell me how to CHEAT Google through Adsense please? They are making too much money already, let me at least make a tiny fraction outta it. Mail me at ttoye97atyahoodotcom
I heard about some clickers network from all over the world, where people click your ads form diff locations across the globe. That would be nice, don’t u think? If u know any drop a mail ttoye97atyahoodotcom
It’s sort of ironic, isn’t it? This article tells you not to cheat, yet you are looking for clicker network.
hi/
dear i want to to know how i get genuine clicks……………..
i was working for 5 mounth……… still i dint get any pay… may be invalid clicks……………. so plzz guid me a simple and nice way 4 erning by the adsene………
thnks…. sani
Hi Sani,
Follow our blog as we regularly post new tips and information on how to earn money blogging, via adsense or adsense aternatives.
To start with, you can read our Adsense Tips and SEO Tips
im blogging for more than 5 months, and just recently i started getting clicks, i want to know that will my site be verified at the point of issuing payment ?
Lets-Kickoff
Hi Sammy,
I don’t see Adsense ads on your blog in the sig. Google constantly check Adsense sites with their crawler, and there may be staff assigned to randomly check on sites as well…
Update: I just saw it, the Adsense link unit. I would suggest taking out the Adbrite block and change it to Adsense instead for 2 reason:
1. Adsense pays much better than Adbrite
2. You shouldn’t have anything that looks similar with Adsense ads in the same pages as Adsense. It is violation of Adsense policy
thanks alot mate,
what is that mean ? “I don’t see Adsense ads on your blog in the sig”
and yeah i have to admit i clicked on my ads for a few times back in april…….will my adsense will be blocked coz im nearing my 1st payment…
Lets-kickoff
Lots of publishers are banned just before they receive their first Adsense payment, so in this case it may happen to you also.
I think the best way will be to come clean with Google, send an email to tell them, apologize about that, and hope for the best. They will probably recheck on your earning and remove the earning from invalid clicks. Even banning your account is a possibility, but this will be your safest bet.
thanks a lot fernando,
one more question, i have parsed my adsense code….so that i can show them in the post body……is it legal ?
i see you have done the same……
your help will be greatly appreciated……
cheers,
Sameer
you can show Adsense in the post body. There are actually a number of wordpress plugins to do that. I’m not sure about blogspot though. But you cannot change the adsense code.
HEY GUYS RECENTLY I FOUND ONE INNOVATIVE WAY TO CHEAT ADSENSE IN A VERY SMART WAY BUT I CANNOT TELL U ALL EVEN AT THE COST OF 5000$ AS I HAD BEGIN TO EARN THAT MUCH WITHIN A SINGLE WEEK BY THIS OF HARD EARNED TRICK.THERE IS ONE OF THE MAJOR LOOPHOLE THAT A ADSENSE BOT DO I CRACKED IT.MAY BE I WILL TELL THIS LOOPHOLE TO U ALL ONE DAY AFTER I BECOME A BILLIONARE(NOT TOO LOMG BUT PROBABLY 2 TO 5 YEARS)
Good luck for that !
(Honestly…., I don’t believe you’ll ever make it. For $5000 a week to reach 1 billion will take over 3000 years, not 2 years)
Maybe this is why they’re thinking about banning google’s analytics ftom Germany…
Lol. It can be one of the reason.
maybe.. but many of them are earning from blogspot site, and i know the trick, but i dont want to do …
anyway thank you..
well…
er…
i don’t get you. sorry…
I wish I read this article before I get banned. I was new to this, so I was young and stupid, just found out about google adsense. I got a couple $ and curious “what if I click a couple time, they wouldn’t notice” I got as far as $20 in several days. Then.. “BANG” busted! so.. gentlemen don’t make the same mistake I made. it’s not worth it.
Don’t worry too much. There are many alternatives out there.
Does my mac adresse change if I upgrade my computer with some other hardware? For example change the graphic card?
No, unless you change the LAN card. Or the Wireless card. Whichever you use to connect.
Click fraud is used by mainly those people who come to blog for money only, they consider it like an employment opportunity, they have the greed and ultimately falls into the trap.
I hate to generalize, not everyone is same. My AdSense account is 5 yrs old, I never clicked on any of the ads. Be nice with Google, they’ll be nice with you too.
Well said. Wish you all the best.
My CTR is at 50%… if I stop clicking my own ads now will it go back down?
Yes of course it will. But don’t worry about it. Most likely your account has been in the line to be banned by now.
Great education, thanks for this public service.
Let’s all continue to make Adsense such a great advertiser’s tool.