Telecom Merger Frenzy: Qwest Trying To Buy MCI

How To Destroy Google With $100 Million?

from the fun-for-the-whole-family dept

Thu, Feb 3rd 2005 3:21am — Mike Masnick

Tom Foremski has come up with what he believes is a huge "vulnerability" in Google's AdWords business model. The business model works because the clicks on the ads are legitimate. If the clicks aren't, then the model becomes troublesome -- which is why Google and others are so concerned about click fraud and look for ways to stop it. So, Foremski's "atom bomb" for Google would be if a random billionaire offered $100 million to the first person to click on a specific Google ad -- without telling anyone (of course) what ad it is. In other words, this billionaire will have given millions of people the incentive to commit clickfraud -- destroying the basis under which the AdWords system works. Advertisers would, in theory, demand their money back or would simply kill their Google ads. It's an interesting idea, and we all know someone who certainly has $100 million lying around and wants to defeat Google. However, there are some problems with the idea. First, in doing so, whatever random "billionaire" carried out this offering would open him or herself up to a tremendous lawsuit from Google. Second, and perhaps more importantly, the problem goes away the second the first person finds the ad and wins the money. Stability is restored, and the system goes on, until the billionaire decides to play the game again -- but that can certainly get expensive fast. While it's an interesting idea, it's not clear that Google has much to worry about right now.

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43 Comments

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Google Boy, 3 Feb 2005 @ 4:17am

The REAL way to defeat google...
The REAL way to defeat google is to create a completely open source search engine, based on a distributed computing model.

Sure Google has 100,000 computers worldwide, but how many of us geeks donate our computer cycles towards distributed computing projects such as Folding at Home, or DHE (Distributed Hardware Evolution) ?

The best part is since everyone is a volunteer, there is no need for foolish "click revenue".

People can donote if they want, or buy memberships that give them bragging rights.
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Justin, 3 Feb 2005 @ 6:57am

No Subject Given
As for long term, I'm sure people would be happy with a $1 mil prize every day for the next 1,000 days..
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Anonymous Coward, 3 Feb 2005 @ 7:10am

Threshold is absurd
A competing search engine could throw the system into caos by distributing "attacks" on specific keywords at random.

Those attacks could be done by 10/hour temps.

$1B prize superfluous.
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Rich Miller, 3 Feb 2005 @ 7:32am

Would this really target Google?
If the "magic click" were a real AdWords ad, Google could undoubtedly find a way to shut the contest down, since it controls AdWords (and we assume the identity of the $100 million patron is known).
If it's not an AdWords ad, but just "looks like" one, that would be a threat to the entire text ads universe, rather than just Google. If someone is giving out millions to destroy an enemy, they'd want to know they can effectively target that enemy. Not sure that works with this example, as the attack would have to use the enemy's own resources.
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Joe Dirt, 3 Feb 2005 @ 8:41am

$100 Million
How do you arrive at that figure? Sounds like wishful thinking. A lousy thousandaire could offer fifty grand and acheive the same result. Or, alternatively, you could simply plot a story that President Bush was a major investor in Google and the same people who scam every MSNBC politics poll would be happy to do the same to Google for free.
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Jef Poskanzer, 3 Feb 2005 @ 8:51am

What makes you think Google wouldn't welcome this?
Google takes a percentage of the payout, and they don't specify what the percentage is. If they wanted to, they could make the secret percentage be as high as they like for this one ad, to compensate for lost revenue from the increase in bogus clicks. They could even distribute the money to the other advertisers in the form of lowered costs, to keep them happy.
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just a pen, 3 Feb 2005 @ 9:18am

just a free pen is needed
Save the hundred million, as others have mentioned. People will click ads for a free pen. Free pen with every hundredth ad click. To keep them interested, give them a blender when they reach 10,000 clicks.

But anyways, the entire PPC ad system is ALREADY overrun with click fraud (50-100%), which is why the only ones who make any money off of it are the ppc engines. It is a dumb idea and should go away. But because the PPC engines (google, etc) do make so much money off their advertisers from click from, they dont really care about it.
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Justin, 3 Feb 2005 @ 9:34am

Always Sabatoge
Why is there always a person out there looking to sabatoge a companies good fortune? Google creates great jobs and work environment for its employees. i don't even work there yet I admire the company. It makes no sense to me. So if there is anyone who can shed light on this subject I am waiting to be enlightend.
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Adam (profile), 3 Feb 2005 @ 9:46am

Re: Always Sabatoge
People love kicking the popular kid. Sometimes it seems our whole society is built on schaudenfreude.

But, seriously, what a counterproductive thing to even contemplate sabataging AdWords. Do we all want to return to the days of blinking shock-the-monkey ads? I, for one, like text ads.
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Don, 3 Feb 2005 @ 11:34am

Destroy Google for free
The free way to destroy Google is by getting 60 million internet users to add:

127.0.0.1 googlesyndication.com
127.0.0.1 pagead2.googlesyndication.com
127.0.0.1 adservices.google.com
127.0.0.1 adwords.google.com
127.0.0.1 pagead.googlesyndication.com
127.0.0.1 pagead2.googlesyndication.com
127.0.0.1 googleadservices.com

to their HOSTS file.
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arthur iger, 3 Feb 2005 @ 12:37pm

100 million google destruction idea
$10 would be enough it.
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Art Iger, 3 Feb 2005 @ 12:39pm

Re: Destroy Google for free
Or they could just use Scroogle.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Marius, 3 Feb 2005 @ 12:46pm

Google's Business Model
What would happen when that random "billionaer" would split the 100 Million Dollars into 100 single pieces. The amount of 1 Million is still attractive. And bringing google a hundred times in trouble would be more effective than shooting trouble on them only one time.
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bakahage, 3 Feb 2005 @ 12:56pm

How to destroy google with 100million???
You wouldn't even need to have someone really put up the $100 million dollars.

How many people still answer the email thinking that Bill Gates is going to give them money. If you could get the rumor started that, in conjunction with his new search engine, Bill Gates is paying out $100 milion (or less even to make it realistic) to the first person to click an unspecified link to prove to the world how bad the Google business model is... then people would click it and click it and click it for years.
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please explain, 3 Feb 2005 @ 6:07pm

Re: Destroy Google for free
please explain. what would this do? block google from your local machine?
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JollyLeprechaun, 3 Feb 2005 @ 9:49pm

try this:
the random billionaire can simply buy a bunch of adwords, and choose one "bingo" word at random; the first person to click on this totally unknown (to the public) adword will get a million dollars. WAY better odds than a lottery, and there's no need to announce a winner as soon as somebody wins :)
To keep it honest, the chosen word can be written down and put in trust by a reliable, unbiased and honest third party with no direct interest in the contest. For example, any escrow service can be used. For added destructive mileage, simply repeat the contest every day for 3 months.
That'll kill Google's adwords pretty quick, you'd have farms of ad-clickers - almost like Mr. Salt's factory in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
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dorpusy, 4 Feb 2005 @ 7:11am

No Subject Given
the real way to defeat google is to add it to the banned list in the fantastic brand new free automatic install m$ spy engine no anti-spy engine.
or maybe just have ie say 404 increasingly for *.google.com. of course this is just speculation thou drdos keeps coming to mind .... 404 ? how about just frame insert to google.msn.com ...
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jul 2005 @ 6:01pm

No Subject Given
Why not just release a software that blocks any of googles ads? There is already a FireFox plugin that does it.
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Andre, 19 Jun 2006 @ 11:36am

Re: The REAL way to defeat google...

The REAL way to defeat google is to create a completely open source search engine, based on a distributed computing model.

In case you didn't know:
http://www.yacy.net/yacy/
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chris, 20 Jun 2006 @ 4:15am

Google Algo
It is the algorithm that matters isnt it ? That is what makes google so strong
[ link to this | view in thread ]
under 13, 29 Jan 2007 @ 1:14pm

Re: The REAL way to defeat google...
I found this page after I typed in google 'destroy google'
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under 13, 29 Jan 2007 @ 1:16pm

Re: Destroy Google for free
Whats a host file?
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under 13, 29 Jan 2007 @ 1:24pm

Re: Google's Business Model, split 100 Milion in 1
if the 100 million was split like that, then why not split it more?

In millions:

100 divided by 110 = about 0.9

So that wouild mean an extra ten people.
Also there would be a little mony left over.
And, 900 000$ is still pretty attrctive, isn't it?
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Chaiya Intasoie, 28 Feb 2007 @ 7:06am

Just thinking
I HATE GOOGLE AND I WOULD LIKE SOME TO HAVE SOME SUGGESTION. WHAT IF YOU, I MEAN EVERY MAN IN THE WORLD TRY TO MAKE CLICK TO GOOGLE ADSENSE AND CLICK. THEN GOOGLE WILL THINK THAT WAS THE SHEAT. THEN THEY WILL STOP AND THERER ADVER TISER WILL THINK GOOGLE IS SHIT
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greg tejuco, 23 Mar 2007 @ 8:04pm

to kill
i want to kill you gloria macapagal arroyo
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allan, 14 Nov 2007 @ 9:56pm

google adwords are shit,google adwords are a rip o
I am writting an operating system called "TheZoid" at http://thezoid.co.uk

I have no choice but to add this due to nasty search engine which will not advertise my busuiness called google addwords on www.google.co.uk which wishes to charge very high prices and as an excuse call my website very poor quality. If you manage to find this website as www.google.co.uk is trying its best to keep it out of its search engine that is unbelivable. I would like to know why google cannot recognize TheZoid as an operating system !!! Please send www.google.co.uk lots of emails and tell them that shitting on the small man is good business sense. If google wishes me to remove this from my website than advertise my business fairly, at resaonable rates !!!!

Did you know google.co.uk wishes to charge upto five pounds for one Click for the word "Operating System" and many other words, I would like to know what is this Bullshit !!!!
Please show your outrage by boycotting the google search engine !!!!

This message was posted on 15/11/2007 just after I cancelled my google adwords account which will not advertise my business. I will not pay stupid prices for one click for one keyword !!

If you work at www.google.co.uk and find this fucking offensive then I am fucking hope so and you can go fuck yourselfs. PS keep pissing of the small man, and I hope you go out of business !!!!
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Rod, 11 Mar 2008 @ 11:19am

Another theory
This post proposes a co-op model, based on the fact that Google relies on web sites to search, so webmaster should take back the power: How to destroy google
[ link to this | view in thread ]
killer753, 3 Oct 2008 @ 4:16am

nuke
you know you can just nuke every computer on earth to destroy google
[ link to this | view in thread ]
jim conway, 2 Jan 2009 @ 2:24am

what is wrong with googles search engine
If google keeps going to your website and keep taking
your pages down, and do not put your pages in the
search engine, then you should put the following
in your robots.txt file

User-agent: Googlebot
Disallow: /

User-agent: Googlebot-image
Disallow: /

User-agent: *
Disallow:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
jim conway, 2 Jan 2009 @ 2:25am

what is wrong with googles search engine
If google keeps going to your website and keep taking
your pages down, and do not put your pages in the
search engine, then you should put the following
in your robots.txt file

User-agent: Googlebot
Disallow: /

User-agent: Googlebot-image
Disallow: /

User-agent: *
Disallow:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
jim conway, 2 Jan 2009 @ 2:31am

what is wrong with googles search engine
If google keeps going to your website and keep taking
your pages down, and do not put your pages in the
search engine, then you should put the following
in your robots.txt file

User-agent: Googlebot
Disallow: /

User-agent: Googlebot-image
Disallow: /

User-agent: *
Disallow:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Cooqle, 28 Feb 2009 @ 7:59am

Cooqle : Better than Google
ask Google : is cooqle better than google ?

the result is : www.cooqle.co.cc
[ link to this | view in thread ]
will, 13 Apr 2009 @ 9:03am

Re: Re: Destroy Google for free
y in the hell would u wont to destroy google what did they do to u......i hate u :(
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Neo Cambell, 11 Nov 2009 @ 12:39am

Why do you need to beat Google?
My question is why do people need to destroy Google or Microsoft. Those people were just like us, spend their whole life in-front of computers and they are now rich. I would ask you learn the same and work at least 20 hours a day. It will bring you a billionaire just as Google, Microsoft, etc..... Also what will happen to 1000s coders worldwide working for those companies. They are also humans with day to day needs just as you.

Open source is good, I agree. But 90% open source that I found are junk written by 1000s of people without a central plan. They have written what they want without thinking what other guys have written. I agree, free is good for learning. For business, it is about an investment which a part is reserved for software and technology.

This is my personal idea. I do not work/support/or earn even a penny from these giant companies. I simply doesn't agree that we need to work on destroying them. We simply have to work by our selves and earn. If you are willing to work, I guarantee the world's end is far away enough to make you a Billionaire (at least live a luxurious life) in the software field.

Regards,

Neo
http://www.expertcore.org
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MisfitChris, 11 Jul 2010 @ 3:51pm

Fuck Google. Fuck Microsoft too. OPEN SOURCE 4 LIFE.
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RaPeIsMyMiDdLeNaMe, 23 Feb 2011 @ 7:19pm

You could also try.......
if u say tee-hee so loud that every one in the room looks at you then magically google would panic and start its unstopable self-destruct sequience
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Mona, 21 Mar 2011 @ 6:16pm

More practical idea to destroy google
If all the publishers are banned by google, adsense is destroyed automatically. Google is banning publishers without warning.(This is a stupidity that will destroy them)
I tell you a traffic purchase site named Daily-traffic.com.
Each one of you find one publisher and donate $1.99 for the cause (multiples will not be required. This will be enough.)
Purchase 1000 clicks of the 'click traffic' for the publisher's site from daily-traffic.com (do not buy any other package like visitors traffic or special traffic, you will only benefit the publisher.) Set the click thru rate etc and let it go. The daily-traffic site owners will not verify that it is your site or not for which you have purchased the traffic; they'll just start delivering the clicks. They promise to distribute the clicks over 15 days but complete all the clicks within a few hours, that too not according to your choice of CTR but I think each of their visitors results in a click. In the next 24 hours your daily-traffic account balance will show:"Clicks ordered 1000....Clicks completed 1007" (Yes, they do over-deliver too!) They do not claim that they will click on google ads but they certainly do it. They claim that the clicks will be for voting etc. But in reality it is understood that the clicks are for google ads. So when 1000 or 2000 adsense clicks go through without the corresponding number of visitors, the publisher is banned in no time. This is my first hand experience. I have axed my own foot. You can axe others'(or google's)
Everyone donate $10 and adieu google!
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Neha, 21 Mar 2011 @ 6:28pm

Re: just a free pen is needed
I suggest the best way to advertise is that every advertiser analysis the publisher site for relevance, traffic etc and displays a banner ad with a 'pay-per-month' charge. That will be the best. Whatever traffic the advertiser gets is his own luck. No one will try to push the clicks. Only the attractiveness of the banner will do it.
It is a pity that no one is doing it. Most publishers also do not seem to care and go for google until they are finished in that.
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Neha, 21 Mar 2011 @ 8:10pm

HowToDestroyGoogle.com
There is actually a website named howtodestroygoogle.com
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Shiv, 5 Jul 2013 @ 11:03am

We can easily destroy by Yahoo making as seach engine thata ist we block ip address of google and we can easily block
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 28 Jul 2013 @ 11:02pm

Re: Always Sabatoge
Look Up Inverted Totalitarianism
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Random Guy On The Net, 11 May 2015 @ 9:38am

Re: Always Sabatoge
Simple. Google is a big nasty corporation that spies in people.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
SudoBash, 24 Aug 2017 @ 12:23pm

Better Way
There is a better way to do this, an automated clicker than scans the entire internet (IP Addresses), scans the content on each page for publisher ads and clicks the fuck out of them repeatedly, recursively, and without end.
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