The Referer Spam Nation Of War Leads To Fluctuations

One inquiry that nosotros meet regularly, inward Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, comes from worried novel weblog owners.

Why gain my pageview counts larn upwards together with downward all of the time?

or, less normally

Why convey my pageview counts been going down, recently?

In many cases, this is a normal resultant of (for example) to a greater extent than traffic final week, than this week. This won't ever endure the crusade of the questions, though.

On days when I am to a greater extent than busy posting content inward my blog(s), I'll by together with large meet a spike inward pageview counts inward "Day" view.

Spikes inward pageview counts are normal - though to a greater extent than obvious on newer blogs.

On days when I am to a greater extent than busy amongst other activities, I'll oft meet a like drib inward pageview counts inward "Day" view. This "spikiness" is more obvious for newer blogs, amongst less established traffic. Depending upon a number of factors, pageview count spikes volition endure to a greater extent than obvious inward Day, Week, or Month view.

But non everybody is concerned amongst spikiness inward Day, Week, or Month counts.

Some weblog owners are observing spikes, or steadily decreasing counts, inward "All time" view. But why would "All time" counts decrease? One pageview final twelvemonth should count for eternity, right?

Referer spam causes pageview spikes - both attacks together with defenses.

Besides the number of spikes caused yesteryear normal twenty-four hr menstruum to twenty-four hr menstruum action of the weblog owners, together with weblog viewers, there's but about other component - referer spam. Both the spammers, together with Google, are constantly busy.

The spammers gain spam, inward ever changing technique together with volume. Google detects the spam, together with blocks it - generally, but about fourth dimension later on each novel spam assault starts.

As the diverse spammers (and if it is non obvious to you, at that spot is to a greater extent than than i unmarried spammer, together with to a greater extent than than i unmarried spam technique beingness used) vary their spamming techniques, the "pageview counts" volition larn up. As Google detects, identifies, together with mitigates each dissimilar spam attack, the "pageview counts" volition larn down.

Google removes referer spam - together with pageview counts are affected, retroactively.

As Google blocks a spam assault this week, they volition set together with withdraw that assault from the pageview counts for final week, final month, together with "all time". And the weblog owners meet the "All time" counts larn down, inward plough - together with nosotros meet to a greater extent than questions inward Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken.

If y'all desire to meet visitor action demographically together with statistically tracked, even together with hence not dependent plain to fluctuations from referer spam, larn a third political party visitor log / meter, to complement Stats. Most such accessories are free, but equally Stats is free.

And endure aware of the contextual limitations of your Stats logs.

Referer Spam Is Here, To Stay

Recently, we're seeing signs of Blogger spider web log owners who are tired of seeing references to referer spam, inward their Stats displays.

Why doesn't Blogger pose an terminate to referer spam?

Some are angrier, together with tragically so.

Why can't Google pose an terminate to referer spam? I'm moving my spider web log to WordPress!

There are several options, to ending referer spam - but non whatever selection volition survive 100%, immediately, effective.

There are three ways that you lot may survive able to meet an terminate to this abuse of our patience, together with our Stats displays.

1. The spammers convey to cease spamming.
2. Google has to block the spam.
3. You convey to halt clicking on the links.

1. Referer spam, seemingly lame to us, is in all likelihood an splendid rootage of revenue for the spammers. Look at how slowly it must be, to produce. All that is required is access to other peoples computers, to mail the spam - together with websites, amongst owners willing to pay for undeserved traffic. Minimum exposure - but constant income. What spammer, able to arrive at this, volition willingly stop?

2. Google is blocking referer spam - but it's a truthful cat together with mouse game. If you lot await at the referer spam which shows upwardly inward your Stats displays, you'll meet that at that topographic point is to a greater extent than than ane spammer - together with to a greater extent than than ane spamming technique. Even every bit Google detects together with blocks ane specific technique, you lot tin bet that but about other technique is beingness developed. As long every bit referer spam continues to create income, spammers volition perish along to create the spam.

3. Referer spam volition perish along to create income, every bit long every bit spider web log owners perish along to click on the links. And now, nosotros are discussing the entirely means that referer spam volition e'er survive stopped.

Don't click on the links.

That is the entirely means to brand referer spam stop. Learn to use a proxy server, if you lot must banking concern gibe out your inlinks from Stats. Alternately, banking concern gibe out inlinks using a 3rd political party visitor data accessory, similar SiteMeter or StatCounter, which is immune to referer spam.

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Use A Proxy Server, When Next Stats Links

We've been observing the ongoing occupation alongside referer spam since the laid out of the year - yet nosotros run into that to a greater extent than or less weblog owners even thus haven't heard of the problem. Some folks who are advised later, to endure to a greater extent than cautious

Don't click on the links!

come dorsum alongside anxious queries

I already clicked on the link! What volition locomote on now? Have I been hacked?

Here, there's no authoritative answer.

When yous click on a Stats traffic root link, as well as larn an eyeful of porn or spam, you're non going to endure happy - exactly hopefully, if your estimator is good protected, chances are in all likelihood adept that you're OK. On the other hand, if this makes yous anxious, it would non endure a bad sentiment to larn the estimator checked out.

In the future, if yous must banking concern stand upwardly for out your Stats traffic sources, use a proxy server. Again, don't click on the links - re-create the URLs, as well as glue them into the proxy server address window.

If yous surf to a referring website as well as similar what yous see, as well as thus larn back, click on the link, as well as bookmark the URL. Just exercise this after yous covert the traffic source.

If, ane day, Blogger uses SafeSearch to covert the URLs, we'll endure rubber again. And presently afterwards, referer spam volition dry out upwardly equally the people who pay for spam based advertising terminal paying.

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Dynamic Templates As Well As Visitor Information

As the dynamic templates proceed to hold upward installed on diverse Blogger blogs, to a greater extent than together with to a greater extent than weblog owners are noticing problems alongside their visitor logs.

I installed a dynamic template on my blog, together with my Stats display shows

No stats yet, banking concern gibe dorsum later.

and

StatCounter shows no traffic, at nowadays that my weblog uses the dynamic views.

These reports come upward from people who don't realise how the novel templates operate - together with why they don't appear to work, inwards these cases.

Blogs that purpose the dynamic views are able to display content faster.

The display speed improvement is possible, because dynamic templates purpose the weblog feed - which is downloaded from the Blogger newsfeed servers, together with rendered every bit a spider web display on our computers. Non Dynamic templates display static or semi static HTML (with CSS, XML, together with other extensions) - rendered into spider web displays on the Blogger servers, together with downloaded every bit spider web content.

The differences inwards spider web page display are non consistent alongside how visitor activity is observed.

• Dynamic templates render less customisation ability, for most weblog owners.
• Newsfeed content is simpler than spider web pages.
• Newsfeed content is read i display page at a time.
• Displayed dynamic pages comprise less formatting tweaks.
• Individual posts, when displayed, are already cached on the local computer.

Dynamic templates render less customisation ability, for most weblog owners.

The downloaded dynamic templates are really simple, together with comprise no custom code for dissimilar blogs. Once downloaded for your blog, they volition operate the same for my blogs, together with for my neighbours weblog - alongside all blogs using dynamic views. This makes these blogs really stable.

Newsfeed content is simpler than spider web pages.

Non rendered newsfeed content is much simpler than rendered display pages. Once the template code is downloaded once, downloading the information is fifty-fifty quicker than downloading the templates.

Newsfeed content is read i display page at a time.

The newsfeed content is read from the Blogger newsfeed servers i display page at a time, together with cached on each readers computer. As each weblog is read, the most recent articles are at the top. Many readers, every bit alongside viewers, volition never become beyond the start display page.

Displayed dynamic pages comprise less formatting tweaks.

The displayed pages comprise really lilliputian accessories together with formatting, which is then pop alongside many weblog owners, together with which generates charge on networks together with processors.

Individual posts, when displayed, are already cached on the local computer.

When an private ship service is displayed, the cached content is already correct there, on the computer.

There are disadvantages to having all content cached, however.

The advantages, together with the disadvantages, of the dynamic views originate from the same basic details - purpose of the weblog newsfeed, together with of a really unproblematic together with criterion template. People who distribute their weblog every bit newsfeed subscriptions bring been shout out for the same question, for years.

How practise I rails my subscribers, also every bit I rails my viewers?

There is no slow answer to this need. With all content cached on the local computer, tracking reader activity is non then simple.

Tracking reader activity is a challenge - for both Blogger together with non Blogger features.

Both tertiary political party visitor logs together with meters, together with the Blogger Stats feature, bring problems providing details virtually our readers - alongside our blogs using the dynamic templates.

1. Older installations of tertiary political party products purpose HTML / JavaScript, installed straight into the weblog templates (generally Classic, merely unopen to Layout together with Designer templates). The dynamic templates volition non include this tertiary political party code. Newsfeeds comprise exclusively really unproblematic text, together with pictures, alongside no scripts.
2. Newer installations of tertiary political party products purpose HTML / JavaScript / XML gadgets, installed every bit accessories into the header, footer, or sidebar sections of the display. The dynamic templates, correct now, comprise neither sidebars nor accessories.
3. Stats reads the Blogger server activity logs, generated every bit rendered display pages are downloaded to the customer computers. Newsfeed content may non require the same server activity, together with generate comparable activity logs.

None of these features volition hold upward easily included inwards the dynamic views, without unopen to rethinking of the unproblematic together with criterion dynamic template structure.

1. Blogger has suggested that they volition render back upward for JavaScript code, inwards the dynamic templates. We tin install tertiary political party JavaScript code straight into the dynamic templates, making them to a greater extent than complex, together with unique for dissimilar blogs.
2. Blogger has suggested that they volition render sidebars, together with back upward for accessory gadgets. We tin install tertiary political party JavaScript code every bit sidebar gadgets.
3. Similar to accessory gadgets used for tertiary political party JavaScript, or to JavaScript embedded into the templates, Blogger tin render additional code to drive Stats displays, together with render pageview counts, into the template code.

Unfortunately, all of these alternatives volition come upward alongside a price. We volition come across increased code complexity, increased downloaded code volume, together with increased network together with processor activity on our computers.

In short, practise non aspect to come across detailed visitor information, comparable to what nosotros come across correct at nowadays inwards Stats or tertiary political party products, straightaway - together with scout for increased latency i time these features are added.

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Owners of #Blogger blogs occasionally unwrap discrepancies inwards visitor activity, when they alter their blogs to purpose dynamic templates, together with examine their visitor logs.

Some - merely non all - changes come upward from reader reaction to the dynamic template displays together with features. Other changes involve how the dynamic templates are processed, past times the local computers beingness used past times the weblog readers.

Nitecruzr.Net Hits The Big Time

This morning, we're seeing a discover of questions inward Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken.

Why are my Stats displays showing

No stats yet, banking venture lucifer dorsum later.

yet again?

and to a greater extent than interestingly

"blogging.nitecruzr.net" is showing multiple hits inward my Stats log!

And none of this is actually surprising, personally.

The bad guys, who convey been serving diverse waves of referer spam against the many Blogger blogs, convey late included "nitecruzr.net" inward their lists of websites, falsely advertised yesteryear their attacks.

I've been using this spider web log to verbalise almost spam, inward general - too almost referer spam, inward particular - for years. This week, the people who operate the referer spam networks are targeting me, inward a Joe Job attack, using Stats logs to confuse Blogger spider web log owners.

In criminal offense novels, it's called a "frame up". In networking, what they are doing is vaguely like to a "smurf attack", using the diverse Blogger spider web log owners, inward an get to overwhelm the forums.

What fascinates me is how referer spam industrial plant - which inward plough is why it can't hold upwards blocked. And the several purposes of referer spam - which is why it volition hold upwards alongside us, forever.

I gauge I should hold upwards flattered. Let's assay to keep it inward perspective, though - too keep working on your blog.

Stats Non Displaying Private Posts, Inward Exceptional Lists

For several days now, we've seen diverse reports from anxious Blogger spider web log owners, inwards perceive, in addition to report, the ongoing problem.

If you lot await at the Stats Overview or Posts display, for whatever spider web log alongside whatever popularity, inwards the "Now" or "Day" fourth dimension range, you'll probable run into the good known advice

No stats yet, banking concern fit dorsum later.

When initially reported, this was alone visible inwards the "Now" fourth dimension range. Now, the consequence is seen inwards "Day", in addition to for some, less consistently trafficked blogs, inwards "Week" also. The consequence is visible, consistently, inwards both the Classic GUI (brown / nighttime blueish display), in addition to the New GUI (2011) (brown / orangish on white display).

This work is apparent, for close blogs, inwards the "Posts" tab.
Most blogs alongside consistent traffic volition present this affecting alone the item Posts lists. The "Now" in addition to "Day" Posts lists, every bit noted, present "No stats yet, banking concern fit dorsum later.". The "Week", Month", in addition to "All time" Posts displays present the Posts lists from before the work kickoff occurred. Both the Posts names inwards the lists, in addition to the pageview counts for each postal service listed, are frozen.

This spider web log shows no consequence inwards pageview counts, exterior the Posts item lists. I've carefully examined the graphs for "Now", "Day", "Week", "Month", in addition to "All time", inwards both the Classic in addition to New GUI, for this spider web log - in addition to I don't run into whatever count discrepancies. Your observations may handgrip or disagree - in addition to I await your comments.

We accept a Rollup discussion, inwards Blogger Help Forum.
We accept the latest moving ridge of referer spam; I am today trying to cause upwards one's hear if the ii events are related.

An before outage may hold upwards related to this problem.
We likewise had an interesting 2 lx minutes outage, a calendar week ago, where no Stats information (counts, or details) was available for the previous calendar week - in addition to roughly spider web log owners are wondering if that number is related. We accept no references for the latter episode, every bit nosotros escalated that work inwards existent time, in addition to Blogger Support was able to ready it, immediately.

That work was consummate (as noted, both counts in addition to details were available), it was immediate (it showed on all Stats displays for the previous week, retroactively), in addition to it was total (the immediate nature in addition to consequence on the forums made it an obvious BloggerFire). This problem, according to my observations, is neither.

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(Update 18:00): Blogger Support has fixed this problem.

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Stats Non Displaying Newer Posts, Inward Posts Lists

The problem of concluding week, alongside Stats, was fixed slow yesterday, in addition to our Stats displays 1 time once again are showing Posts pageview counts in addition to enumerating private Posts. Now, nosotros accept a perceived problem, existence reported yesteryear newer spider web log owners.

My Stats display does non demo my newer posts!

This work organization is visually valid - but it's non real. It's virtually mutual alongside blogs that accept precisely over 10 posts, which are owned yesteryear people who are non aware of the Stats display limitations, equally nosotros accept explored.

The Stats Posts displays enumerate the 10 virtually pop posts, for whatever given fourth dimension period. Newer posts volition seldom look inwards the Posts lists, for many blogs.

• The "Posts" lists enumerate private posts, in addition to shows pageview counts for posts viewed inwards unmarried postal service view. Newer posts volition hold upwards displayed inwards their entirety on the principal page, in addition to read equally principal page views.
• The lists demo alone the 10 virtually pop posts. Newer posts, non however indexed yesteryear the search engines, or linked yesteryear your readers, won't accept equally many inlinks - in addition to the postal service page URLs won't instruct out equally much traffic from other blogs in addition to websites.

Owners of newer blogs volition non hold upwards aware of these details - in addition to alongside precisely over 10 posts, may non run across the significance, inwards their Stats displays. These owners volition but see, from fourth dimension to time, posts that don't look inwards the lists.

If you lot hold off at the principal page, for this blog, you'll run across purpose of "Jump Break" inwards my newer posts. Each of these posts, to hold upwards read inwards their entirety, tin alone hold upwards read using the "Read more" link - in addition to from the private postal service page. Look at the address window above.

Since you're viewing these words, this postal service is existence counted inwards Posts, equally a pageview. Thus the Posts lists, for this blog, volition enumerate this post, sooner.

Here, nosotros run across unopen to other practise goodness of using "Jump Break" over other car summarisation techniques. The "Jump Break" links bespeak to the unmarried postal service persuasion of each postal service - in addition to it uses HTML, which makes it search engine friendly. Some previous car summarisation techniques used JavaScript to shroud the total postal service content, preventing search engines from indexing the total postal service text.

Besides encouraging the postal service content to hold upwards read equally a postal service page, the search engines volition index postal service content inwards the postal service pages. The archive retrievals, in addition to principal page, volition alone listing the partial content of each postal service - in addition to search engine striking lists will incorporate to a greater extent than relevant content.

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Jump Break, Primary Page Contents, Together With Search Engines

The articles inwards this blog, which discusses production as well as piece of occupation of Blogger blogs, are written equally posts.

The diverse posts are combined, using embedded links, inwards dissimilar ways. Each novel post appears on the master copy page, equally it is written - as well as the diverse posts, appearing together on the master copy page, create opportunities for confusion, amongst the readers of the blog.

Long ago, the chore of moderating comments was rather depressing to me, equally the focus of many of the comments made me mean value that nobody was truly reading the articles. Maybe, I would write an interesting post virtually URL availability; simply when moderating comments, I would abide by questions virtually posting comments on static pages. Or possibly a post virtually dynamic template concepts would attract complaints virtually referer spam.

Why should I discover my advice, if nobody cares plenty to read the articles as well as comment relevantly?

Just previous to this post, I wrote virtually Stats displays, as well as the contents of the Posts lists.

In the procedure of writing the latter article, I discovered i obscure exercise goodness of using "Jump Break" - as well as how "Jump Break" affects master copy page view, search engine indexing, as well as finally, relevance of comments to post subject.

A dwelling family page, amongst a multifariousness of posts, naturally produces un focused comments.

Why the apparent lack of focus, of the comments? One argue is that many dissimilar posts, published i afterwards the other, appear in sequence, inwards the blogs master copy page.

People volition read the posts - as well as the search engines volition index the posts - using master copy page view. Only afterwards newer posts forcefulness the older posts, i past times one, from master copy page view, volition the private posts convey whatsoever significance - to people or search engines.

Using my event above, as well as looking at my master copy page when this post was new, i would convey establish a post virtually URL availability, published a calendar week afterwards a post virtually posting comments on static pages. By the fourth dimension the search engines indexed the latter post, I would convey published the quondam post. The post virtually URL availability would hold upward visible inwards master copy page view, ahead of the post virtually posting comments on static pages.

Clicking on the link to my blog, attached to a SERP entry referencing static pages, the reader volition read my master copy page from the top, abide by the previously visible post virtually URL availability, as well as the Comments link next the post. Clicking on the showtime Comments link found, the reader volition post his inquiry virtually static pages, against my post virtually URL availability.

Use of Jump Break gives a dwelling family page that tin laissez passer on notice hold upward easily read, pinnacle to bottom.

So, what number does the piece of occupation of "Jump Break" convey on this problem? Using "Jump Break" on all master copy page posts makes it to a greater extent than probable that a potential reader of the blog, next a dwelling family page link to the blog, has to a greater extent than demand chances to encounter all recent posts, amongst their summaries.

The reader is to a greater extent than probable to scan downward the page, encounter a summarised relevant post, click on "Read more" - as well as read the relevant post, on the private post page, earlier commenting.

Use of Jump Break gives to a greater extent than weight to the private posts, equally indexed.

Additionally, amongst the posts summarised inwards master copy page view, the search engines volition abide by less content on the master copy page. The total posts volition hold upward indexed equally private post pages, to a greater extent than than equally business office of the master copy page. This gives to a greater extent than weight to the private posts, as well as less weight to the master copy page.

When indexed using an automatically generated, robust sitemap (2014), the posts volition appear individually inwards SERP lists, decreasing reader master copy page confusion. Each SERP entry, pointing to an private post, volition hold upward to a greater extent than relevantly focused - giving it to a greater extent than weight than a SERP entry, pointing to master copy page view.

Use of Jump Break, consistently, produces a win-win-win scenario.

In summary, careful as well as consistent piece of occupation of "Jump Break" leads to:

• Better focus on private as well as relevant spider web log articles, past times the search engines.
• Less confusion to the blogs readers, when accessing the spider web log using SERP striking lists.
• Less frustration for the spider web log owner, when moderating comments.

It's truly a win-win-win, when used consistently. And, it's as well as thus simple to apply, on a post past times post basis. Check it out, in action.

Referer Spam Does Non Stand Upwards For Existent Traffic

We've been discussing referer spam for many years.

Every week, also many people who wonder

Why doesn't Google seat an terminate to this, for good?

there are occasionally approximately folks who wonder

But is this all bad? Doesn't this aid us inwards our overall Blogger statistics as far as traffic counts go? If so, it's non all bad - for those of us alongside less than ginormous followings.

And both attitudes reverberate people who precisely don't sympathize what it is.

We've already discussed, repeatedly, why Google can't precisely seat a terminate to it, unilaterally.

The latter musing, considering that it may perhaps hold out beneficial to whatever Blogger blogs, is no to a greater extent than valid than the former. Referer spam precisely cannot hold out blocked, because it is non unlike from legitimate traffic.

Stats logs entries, from referer spam, produce non reverberate people viewing the blog.

The numbers reflected inwards our Stats logs produce non stand upwardly for whatever click on the links inwards the Stats display.

Only Stats, which builds its pageview counts too graphs using the Blogger server activeness logs, is discipline to referer spam. All third political party visitor logs too meters, which depend upon snippets or widgets added to the weblog template, are non discipline to this problem.

Don't click on the links - too piece of employment a 3rd political party visitor log for verification.

So, also my facetious advice that y'all simply

Don't click on the links.

comes as facetious advice that you

Get a 3rd political party visitor log / meter, for accurate too comprehensive pageview counts.

Referer Spam Cannot Locomote Blocked, Immediately

That is the unfortunate truth.

Every day, around novel fellow member of it does non reverberate existent traffic, the side yesteryear side query is

So why doesn't Google block it? Why should I accept it polluting my Stats displays, as well as endure unable to let on actual traffic inward my counts?

and the unfortunate truth is precisely that Google cannot block it, because it's non significantly unlike from normal traffic - as well as the insignificant departure is non easily detected.

Referer spam cannot endure identified, because it is identical inward construction to legitimate Stats pageviews - as well as because its content changes, constantly.

What does a normal spider web log page "pageview request" hold back like?

When yous click on a link from, say, a postal service inward Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, to this article, your estimator sends a unmarried message to the Blogger server, containing 3 essential details.

1. The IP address of your computer.
2. The URL of a forum discussion, which contains a link to this article.
3. The URL of this article.

From the message, the Blogger server creates a server activeness record.

1. An IP address.
2. The URL of the page containing a link to the webpage requested.
3. The URL of the webpage requested.

That server activeness record, inward the Stats display for the blog, is known equally a "pageview".

Finally, the Blogger server starts sending spider web page content dorsum to your computer, as well as thence your estimator tin display this article to you. As the webpage content is sent dorsum to your computer, your estimator receives, as well as displays, the received content - as well as asks for to a greater extent than content.

What does a referer spam "pageview request" hold back like?

Simple enough? So, what is referer spam? Simply, a unmarried message from a spammer computer, to the Blogger computer, containing 3 essential details.

1. An IP address - possibly, but non predictably, of their computer.
2. The URL of the website existence pimped (the spammed website).
3. The URL of the spider web log existence spammed (your blog).

From the message, the Blogger server creates a server activeness record.

1. An IP address.
2. The URL of the page (supposedly) containing a link to the webpage requested.
3. The URL of the webpage (supposedly) requested.

That server activeness record, inward the Stats display for the blog, is likewise known equally a "pageview".

Finally, the Blogger server starts sending spider web page content dorsum to the IP address provided. If the IP address does refer to the spammers computer, what is received is precisely ignored. The spammer estimator moves on, as well as sends around other imitation pageview message to around other server - maybe referencing this blog.

The "pageview request" is generated, earlier referer spam discontinues.

The employment is precisely that no spider web server tin let on a message from a customer computer, that results inward a reply that is precisely ignored. Web traffic is lossy, as well as clients drib offline constantly. Even if the reply could endure detected equally ignored, the ignored asking mightiness even as well as thence reverberate legitimate activity, initiated yesteryear a customer that forthwith went offline.

There is precisely no fashion for Google to block the spam - because the spam is precisely i message that results inward a response, yesteryear the Blogger server, that is later on ignored yesteryear the customer computer.

That's it.

So why can't Google block the numbers generated yesteryear may non actually stand upwards for actual spam. They can, precisely equally easily, reverberate intense, legitimate activity - or perhaps a devious attack against a legitimate website.

Google tin solely let on referer spam inward context, against multiple blogs.

Specific pageview counts as well as details are observed inward context - are blocked solely after the same activeness is observed against multiple blogs, over long periods of fourth dimension (similar, inward concept, to the numbers are removed, retroactively.

All of this is a uncomplicated unavoidable side effect, of spider web log owners needing site activeness figures that are not affected yesteryear script filtering yesteryear the spider web log readers, complicated yesteryear fraudulent activeness yesteryear hackers as well as spammers.

Referer spam is non unique to Blogger - it is precisely tuned to abuse Stats logs.

Please regime annotation that referer spam did non outset amongst Blogger - it's an Internet broad problem. Even though it appears mindless as well as random, around of it is craftily designed as well as executed.

For a comprehensive hold back at how referer spam works, exterior Blogger, encounter Wikipedia: Referer spam.

The employment hither is threefold.

1. Too many spider web log owners obsess over raw pageview counts.
2. Too many spider web log owners produce non sympathise the origins of referer spam.
3. Too many spider web log owners are non interested inward agreement the existent problem.

That's it!

The Stats All Fourth Dimension Display, Together With The 2010 Numbers

Occasionally inwards Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, nosotros run across a curious question.

My weblog Stats display is missing a consummate year.

The employment is truly correct there, inwards front end of all of us - if nosotros look.

Look at the Stats Overview tab, in addition to the graph at the travel past times of the display.

What happened to "2010"?


My suspicion is that it's a deliberate omission, to teach the graph to agree inwards the express horizontal space. How volition they teach "All Time" to agree inwards that space, every bit the Stats display gets older, in addition to "All Time" covers to a greater extent than years?

That beingness the case, it should non live on that much operate to add together a trivial "broken line" symbol inwards the border, betwixt "2009 October" in addition to "2011 March". Look how smoothly the describe of piece of work flows, inwards my graph, correct through 2010. What does your weblog show?

Fast forrad to 2015, in addition to we'll know the answer.

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And inwards 2012, nosotros at ane time run across the same display oddity amongst the numbers from 2011.

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Concentrate On Your Readers, Non On The Spammers

We've been exploring the nature of referer spam for over a yr now. I've provided diverse suggestions most the occupation - what you should non do, the observation that it does non genuinely exhibit traffic to your blog, in addition to fifty-fifty why Stats is vulnerable to this abuse.

To the most oft asked question

What create I create most it?

the reply is generally

Don't click on the links.

And that's but one-half of the answer, if nosotros intend most it.

We've slow realised that referer spam is in all likelihood hither to stay - in addition to hence "Don't click on the links" is like to "Close your eyes, in addition to yous won't meet it". Maybe, nosotros should crusade a ameliorate answer.

How most nosotros order everybody to just become dorsum to work on their blogs?
This volition convey ii benefits.

• You won't convey fourth dimension to click on the links.
• Your weblog volition become but about existent traffic.

In time, amongst actual traffic from actual readers, yous won't meet the referer spam. You'll convey actual reader activity, inward your Stats log. Isn't that genuinely what yous want?

Win - Win - Lose (You - Your readers - The spammers).

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Fluctuations Inwards Reader Action Score Are Normal

One sign of panic, seen regularly inwards keep a proper perspective.

No thing what fourth dimension make yous view, inwards Stats - "Now", "Day", "Week", "Month", or "All time" - yous tin mail away await to encounter fluctuations - peaks together with valleys - inwards pageview counts.

• Time which yous spend, working on the blog.
• Referer spam - attacks together with defenses.
• Reader audience daily activity.
• Reader audience social sharing.

Time which yous spend, working on the blog.

If yous spend fourth dimension working on your blog this week, together with your run is successful, your readers may bask the spider web log to a greater extent than side yesteryear side week. Conversely, if your run is unsuccessful, they may bask it less.

Referer spam - attacks together with defenses.

As Google deals amongst the constant waves of referer spam, you'll encounter a drib inwards counts across all fourth dimension ranges. And equally novel referer spam campaigns come upward online, you'll encounter the counts rise.

Reader audience daily activity.

Unless your spider web log is completely homogenous across all basis broad cultures, you'll conduct hold 1 or ii predominant audiences. Your audiences volition eat, sleep, together with acquire to run - together with all existent life activity volition affect their viewing of your blog.

Reader audience social sharing.

From fourth dimension to time, believe it or not, yous volition write a expert article, which many people volition desire to read. They volition forrard it to their friends, who volition read it together with forrard it to their friends.

This is traffic that yous desire to encourage - it is non hacking, or other malicious activity. Use your visitor logs, position pop articles - together with write to a greater extent than like content.

Understand your reader audience, together with their needs.

It's expert to spotter the counts, understand your audience, together with endure prepared to accept activity if yous encounter a pregnant ascent or autumn - merely don't obsess over the details.

Remember that your readers volition appreciate content, then keep publishing to the blog. And, larn to understand the trends. To avoid confusion, purpose more than 1 visitor log / meter.

And now, get dorsum to run on your blog.

Stats Together With The Don't Rail Your Ain Pageviews Alternative On Mobile Computers

As mobile computing becomes to a greater extent than popular, we're starting to encounter questions almost run of the Blogger dashboard on mobile computers (iPhone / iPod, PDA, smart phone), inwards Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken. Most recently, we're seeing people trying to run Stats, too the "Don't rails my ain pageviews" option, alongside Blogger on mobile computers.

Problems alongside Stats too the "Don't rails ..." selection are non unknown, inwards the past. We've helped many weblog owners alongside this setting, which is sensitive to cookie too script filtering inwards full general - too to "third political party cookies" inwards particular. "Third political party cookies" may endure filtered inwards whatever of several places, whatever which volition interfere alongside "Don't rails ...".

The "Don't rails ..." option, when seen equally a work alongside "full size" computers (desktop, laptop / notebook), may request whatever of diverse "layered security" settings. In full general "full size" computers run a somewhat measure software infrastructure. While whatever of several operating systems (Apple / Macintosh, Chrome, Linux, Microsoft Windows), too diverse browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari) brand run of Blogger an occasional challenge on "full size" computers, at that topographic point is about mutual features betwixt the diverse operating systems too browsers.

With the diverse "operating systems" too browsers on mobile computers, we're seeing to a greater extent than discrepancies inwards features offered. In particular, non all "mobile computers" accept explicit settings to permit / disallow "third political party cookies" - or fifty-fifty cookies too scripts, inwards general. If these settings are non present, it's probable that these computers produce non back upwards such details equally "third political party cookies".

Without the availability of "third political party cookies", Blogger can't back upwards the "Don't rails ..." option. Here, I'll Federal Reserve annotation that this selection is specific to each private browser, on each private computer. One must fix the selection - too browse the specific Blogger weblog - using the same browser, for the selection to work. This is non an selection that tin move endure assail a per user basis, too apply to all browsers used past times a specific user.

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Fluctuations Inwards Stats Pageview Counts As Well As Newer Blogs

Some owners of newer Blogger blogs pass fourth dimension reading their Stats logs, together with worry that their "All time" pageview counts don't ever become upwardly - they become down, too.

Why practice the counts become down? Is at that spot i number, that I tin believe?

They don't sympathize that amongst Stats, yous necessitate to expect for trends - non absolute readings. In the beginning, fluctuations are to a greater extent than obvious, together with trends are less obvious.

Thanks to the referer spam war, together with to normal visitor activity, fifty-fifty the "All time" numbers volition become upwardly together with downward - for newer blogs, which withdraw keep less genuine together with constant visitor traffic. And the constant ascension together with autumn is scary - until yous acquire used to it.

Newer blogs withdraw keep less established readers, which makes spikes inwards both the periodic referer spam, together with normal visitor activity, to a greater extent than visible.

With the iv express fourth dimension ranges (Now, Day, Week, together with Month), the spikes volition "move" inwards together with out of context - together with brand pageview counts inwards these fourth dimension ranges fluctuate. When a spike inwards numbers "moves in" to a fourth dimension range, the pageview counts volition rise, suddenly. When a spike "moves out" of a fourth dimension range, the counts volition fall, simply every bit suddenly.

With newer blogs, the fluctuations exert a "double whammy".

1. The fluctuations are to a greater extent than visible, because overall genuine visitor action is lower. Less readers = less visitor activity.
2. Worrying over the fluctuations takes fourth dimension away from working on the blog. Less fourth dimension working on the spider web log leads to less spider web log content, attracts less novel readers, together with leads to less visitor activity.

More experienced spider web log owners know to use Stats to sentry for trends - non immediate numbers.

The answer hither is simple. Monitor Stats periodically - non constantly. Watch for trends, together with learn how to translate the trends. Spend to a greater extent than fourth dimension working on your blog, because that's where the value of your spider web log lies.

The Stats All Fourth Dimension Display, As Well As The 2011 Numbers

Occasionally inwards last twelvemonth - for 2010.

Look at the Stats Overview tab, in addition to the graph at the transcend of the display.

There's Dec 2010!
There's Jan 2012!!
What happened to "2011"?


My suspicion is that it's a deliberate omission, to become the graph to tally inwards the express horizontal space. How volition they become "All Time" to tally inwards that space, every bit the Stats display gets older, in addition to "All Time" covers to a greater extent than years?

That beingness the case, it should non live that much function to add together a piffling "broken line" symbol inwards the border, somewhere betwixt "Septermber 2010" in addition to "May 2012". Look how smoothly the business flows, inwards my graph, correct through 2011. What does the graph for your spider web log show?

Fast frontwards to 2015, in addition to we'll know the answer.

Life is amount of mystery. Why non but bargain amongst this one, in addition to deed on?

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Stats Fourth Dimension Ranges, Too Pageview Count Recalculation

Periodically, nosotros come across bear witness of confusion nearly Stats in addition to the pageview counts, equally provided inwards the diverse displays in addition to fourth dimension ranges, expressed inwards Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken.

My pageview counts proceed going down!

or

My counts larn upward during the twenty-four hr menstruum - but inwards the afternoon, they drib to zero!!

or

My counts proceed going down! There's no cease to the drop!!

All of these complaints - in addition to to a greater extent than - involve weblog owners, who don't sympathise the relationships betwixt the displays in addition to fourth dimension ranges.

We've explored the results of the ongoing referer spam war, of normal viewer activity, in addition to of the daily pageview count reset which applies, periodically, to all blogs.

Besides those iii issues, at that spot is roughly confusion nearly the relationships betwixt the diverse fourth dimension ranges. There are six unlike Stats counters / displays - in addition to opportunities for confusion, from each display.

1. The Dashboard "Overview" page.
2. The Posts "All time" per post service pageviews count.
3. The Stats "Overview" page.
4. The Stats "Posts" page.
5. The Stats "Traffic sources" page.
6. The Stats "Audience" page.

The Stats "Audience" page

See the fourth dimension hit selector bar, inwards the upper correct corner?


The 4 Stats display pages ("Overview", "Posts", "Traffic sources", "Audience") each offering v unlike "Time range" displays.

• Now (the final 2 hours).
• Day (the final 24 hours).
• Week (the final vii days).
• Month (the final thirty days).
• All fourth dimension (since May 2006, when Stats pageview counts were origin extracted) - though possibly missing 1 yr or another.

Some weblog owners endeavour to compare the Stats "Overview" histogram (in its v fourth dimension ranges), amongst the "Overview" counts ("today", "yesterday", "last month", in addition to "all fourth dimension history"). Unfortunately, the graphs in addition to numbers are recalculated (by Blogger) on diverse schedules.

• Some are recalculated on a infinitesimal past times infinitesimal basis.
• Some are recalculated hourly.
• Some are recalculated daily (but not necessarily at midnight, for everybody).
• We accept no thought of the timings involved, for "Popular Posts" re ranking.

Confusion arises, when a weblog possessor refreshes a display, without agreement when the numbers behind the display may accept been recalculated, relevant to reader activity.

• When reader activeness occurs, the graphs / numbers (when refreshed, next a recalculation) volition betoken an increase.
• When reader activeness expires from relevance, the graphs / numbers (when refreshed, next a recalculation) volition betoken a decrease.
• When reader activeness is removed because it was bogus, the graphs / numbers (when refreshed, next a recalculation) volition betoken a decrease.

Note that Stats bases its figures on access to the URL - non to the weblog - in addition to recalculates each display when requested, equally far dorsum equally 2006. If y'all exactly changed the URL of your blog, y'all may come across pageview counts which reflect access to roughly other blog.

The unlike fourth dimension ranges may non balance, when a URL alter is involved.

You ask to essay out the fourth dimension hit selector bar carefully. Like the post editor "Compose" / "HTML" selector bar, the bar amongst ii shades of grayish is real elegant (and may non live noticed, amongst a quick glance). And mobile reckoner displays may non accept a selector bar.

Like the inability to balance the diverse per post service pageview counts, the business of balancing the diverse graphs in addition to numbers may live beyond the ability of roughly weblog owners. Each count or graph has to live considered inwards its ain context.

Comparing whatsoever ii displays, inwards context amongst each other, but may non live a useful activity.

Use Complimentary Online Website Display Services, To Diagnose Browser Related Problems

Look at the Audience display, inwards Stats. How many dissimilar entries do y'all see, inwards "Pageviews past times Browser" in addition to "Pageviews past times Operating System"? Stats lists are express to 10 entries, each. Do y'all ever wonder if those lists, similar the other Stats lists, should live on longer? How do nosotros ever promise to expose our blogs, in addition to encounter what they hold off like, for our many dissimilar readers?

One of the challenges of publishing a Blogger weblog is developing a weblog that looks good, on every reader's browser in addition to computer. The number of combinations of operating organisation times browser build times browser version - whatsoever of which tin do a display oddity, when viewing whatsoever weblog or website - is staggering.

How tin nosotros ever promise to hit a weblog that's universally readable? We tin ever (depending upon the capacity of the computer(s) which nosotros may use) purpose dissimilar browsers, to monitor ongoing issues which powerfulness touching on our blog's legibility. Knowing the existent number of combinations that may touching on our readers, volition using 1 or 2 alternate browsers (on 1 unmarried operating system) actually attain much?

One mode that nosotros tin continue to a greater extent than or less running thought what our blogs hold off like, inwards dissimilar browsers, is to purpose an online browser display analysis service. This is an essential business office of verifying proper formatting, every bit nosotros build changes.

Free online services, similar AnyBrowser or BrowserShots, volition exhibit y'all what your weblog looks like, past times simulating it on dissimilar browsers. Their displays, on your browser in addition to your reckoner are manifestly dependent champaign to peculiarities of your browser in addition to computer, of course of report - only their services are a practiced start.

For inwards depth research, the W3Schools Online Web Tutorials volition identify, inwards detail, which features are supported, inwards dissimilar browsers.

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Search Engines, Visitor Logs, Too Province Domains

Some weblog owners are seeing the late added Country Code Top Level Domain Aliases inwards their visitor logs / meters, as well as diverse non Google search engines.

Possibly unaware of the aliases, they are afraid that their weblog has been hacked.

My SiteMeter logs present that I've had incoming traffic from "mybloggerblog.blogspot.in". Clicking on i of the links inwards SiteMeter, I run across my blog, "mybloggerblog.blogspot.com". Has mortal cloned my blog?

In reality, the scenario is non as well as then ominous.

Those of us aware of the CC aliases, as well as how they are existence used past times Blogger, volition sympathize that only seeing a non canonical alias inwards our referer lists, inwards whatever search engine or visitor log / meter, is non an indication of malicious activity.

People unfamiliar amongst the province code aliases may endure confused.

People long used to seeing alone "blogspot.com" as well as "google.com", as well as non yet experienced amongst the CC aliases, may operate confused, however. Blogger blogs owners amongst long established blogs that bring audiences exterior the USA are likely used to seeing all references to their blogs based on the canonical URL, such equally "mybloggerblog.blogspot.com".

Now that BlogSpot published blogs are existence served using the CC aliases, inwards many countries exterior the USA, the readers of BlogSpot published blogs are seeing each weblog nether non "blogspot.com" URLs inwards around search engines, as well as inwards many visitor logs as well as meters.

Many search engines volition aggregate search references, to the canonical URL.

Most major search engines, which reference the "canonical" tag inwards the weblog header, are aggregating all SERP entries to role the "blogspot.com" URLs. Our of import search reputation is non existence fragmented, such that readers inwards Commonwealth of Australia furnish reputation to "blogspot.com.au", readers inwards Republic of Republic of India furnish reputation to "blogspot.in", readers inwards New Zealand furnish reputation to "blogspot.co.nz", as well as and then on.

Every hit, from every reader inwards every country, silent provides reputation to the canonical alias, "blogspot.com".

Some specialised search engines similar Alexa, DMOZ, etc - as well as close visitor logs similar SiteMeter, StatCounter, as well as Stats, may non endure designed to reference the canonical tag. It's besides possible that visitor logs, past times their nature, should non aggregate CC aliases to the canonical URL - equally the province code, relevant to the private readers, may endure of import to around weblog owners.

Until the canonical tag is used past times every Internet service, at that spot volition endure confusion.

Until the role of the canonical tag, as well as the CC aliases to our readers, becomes mature, it's possible that nosotros volition run across diverse oddities similar a perceived employment amongst Alexa, SiteMeter, or StatCounter. It's probable that non all Internet services volition always reference the canonical tag consistently, as well as aggregate all statistics as well as visitor demographics, canonically.

Given the latter probability, this may endure yet i to a greater extent than argue why Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken may never larn out of business.

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Some Confusion Over Use Of The CC TLD Aliases, By Search Engines And Visitor Logs
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Search Engines And Visitor Logs, And The Country Specific Domains
Search Engines, Visitor Logs, And Country Domains

What Does Stats Provide, That 3Rd Political Party Visitor Activeness Meters Cannot Provide?

Not all weblog owners realise how unique Blogger Stats is, inwards its design.

Some owners may idly propose that Stats tin easily endure replaced past times whatsoever tertiary political party visitor action log / meter.

Why bother to role Stats? Since Blogger Stats shows referrer spam, it's pretty useless - exactly role SiteMeter, StatCounter - or Google Analytics.

They receive got no thought why Stats was designed equally it is, nor what information Stats provides, that no competing production tin perhaps provide.

Every improver accessory, such equally whatsoever visitor action counter / log / meter, has to endure manually installed inwards your blog.

Most visitor action counter / log / meter products involve installation.

Simple accessories, which depend upon your visitor clicking on a link, tin endure installed easily - exactly add together a clickable link on your weblog - either inwards a post, or anywhere inwards the trunk of the blog. Visitor logs or meters such equally SiteMeter or StatCounter, inwards lodge to make usable statistics, can't depend upon the weblog readers clicking on a link.

Most such accessories role improver JavaScript code, installed inwards the trunk of the weblog (as an accessory gadget), or inwards the weblog template (installed using "Edit HTML"). With improver code, that references whatsoever external server, the installed location on the weblog page, of the accessory code, is crucial.

• Install the improver at the altitude of the spider web page (or inwards the template code), together with equally your reader loads each page, he / she gets to sentry the page charge pause, equally it waits for a distant accessory server to reply (while recording the visit).
• Install the improver at the bottom of the page, together with whatsoever reader, who closes the display earlier the page finishes loading, volition non endure counted past times Analytics / SiteMeter / StatCounter.

In either case, the page takes longer to load. This causes reader impatience, together with motivates the reader to unopen the display earlier the page finishes loading. The upshot - your weblog gets ane less novel reader.

Most visitor action counter / log / meter products are affected past times filters.

Besides reader impatience causing statistical inaccuracy, all tertiary political party accessories that role JavaScript receive got a minute work - script filtering past times our readers.

Analytics, SiteMeter, together with StatCounter are known to endure explicitly blocked, past times some browser setting or tertiary political party application that may spill out whatsoever given customer computer. Some safety products specifically listing "sitemeter.com" or "statcounter.com" inwards their Block Lists.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of malicious activity, encountered when surfing the web, tin easily endure blocked past times proactive script filtering - exactly allow scripts, from whatsoever given domain, exclusively when explicitly told to make so.

Every reader uses safety accessories in the browser together with on the computer - together with many safety accessories together with settings furnish script filtering. Most safety is at ane time provided equally "deny past times default, allow exclusively on demand".

Most safety products update automatically, equally updates are produced - together with this leads to other problems. Many of our readers, who are concerned amongst security, or who role computers that are good protected, may non endure counted, consistently, past times Analytics, SiteMeter, or StatCounter.

Stats does non involve installation, together with is non affected past times filters.

Blogger Stats avoids the issues of page charge delay induced impatience, together with customer filtering, past times non using JavaScript improver code. Since Stats is a Blogger accessory, it tin think information straight from the access logs produced past times the Blogger servers. Access to server access logs:

• Does non displace page charge delays.
• Is non dependent area to page charge delay impatience.
• Is non dependent area to reader safety settings.
• Does non involve installation of whatsoever accessory, on private blogs.

Besides the problems of our readers visits non beingness counted, nosotros receive got the number of what information is provided, together with for what menses of time. If you lot receive got installed SiteMeter or StatCounter on your blog, expect at the displays provided. Each production volition advert a bound of either 100 or 500 log entries - together with volition display details or statistics based upon the log used.

Many Blogger blogs popular off to a greater extent than than 500 visits inwards a unmarried 24-hour interval - requiring weblog possessor visits to the log website at to the lowest degree daily, or to pay for extra service, to furnish whatsoever benefit. And of course, that log was started exclusively afterward the production was installed.

Blogger Stats, on the other hand, is able to furnish statistics for the electrical current day, week, month, together with for "all time" (starting inwards May 2009, for all blogs inwards existence at that time).

Stats does non discard erstwhile statistics, they exactly extract from the server access logs, for whatsoever fourth dimension arrive at provided.

• All time.
• Last xxx days ("Month").
• Last seven days ("Week").
• Last 24 hours ("Day").
• Last ii hours ("Now").

Any weblog possessor tin consider whatsoever available statistics, at whatsoever time. Stats never has to endure installed, past times whatsoever weblog owners - it is already there.

Stats is vulnerable to bogus action records, created past times spammers.

Unfortunately, the biggest describe of Stats - role of the server access logs to get together the visitor action information - leads to its best known weakness - abuse past times referer spammers, which leads to inflated weblog read counts.

It may assistance to sympathise that referer spam did non outset amongst Stats - nor is referer spam unique to Stats. Referer spam has been roughly always since people published websites, together with displayed a visitor log extract ("My Recent Visitors") to brand their website to a greater extent than interesting to novel readers (The proposition that "This website should endure to a greater extent than interesting to YOU, because it has readers from all over the world!").

Stats, similar every visitor action counter / log / meter product, resets totals.

Besides the line of piece of work organisation of referer spam, nosotros consider diverse evidences of confusion nigh Stats displays.

• "Daily" counter resets that occur during the 24-hour interval - never at midnight.
• The inability to compare special inwards ane display, amongst aggregated counts inwards some other display.
• Inability to display pageview counts for all posts inwards the blog.

All of these limitations are only the direct upshot of how Stats is designed.

Every visitor action counter / log / meter production differs, from every other product.

In reality, both Blogger Stats together with third political party visitor action logs or meters receive got their respective advantages - together with neither pick tin always supervene upon another.

• If you lot desire to consider demographic details nigh some readers of your blog, you lot tin role Analytics, SiteMeter, StatCounter - or whatsoever number of tertiary political party visitor action logs together with meters - afterward the chosen accessory has been installed.
• If you lot desire to consider comprehensive statistics nigh all readers of your weblog - without beingness express past times install fourth dimension or reader safety policy - exclusively Blogger Stats volition assistance you.

Fortunately, all products are complimentary - together with Stats requires no installation. Your Stats information is there, waiting for you lot - on the Blogger dashboard menu.