Comments on: Microsoft’s listing in Google Maps Hijacked (oops by me)

By: Sal Surra

Sal Surra — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:44:24 +0000

As if local businesses don’t have enough to worry about, now they have to police their own listings from Google. Personally, I think Google should shut down Places as it violates many of their policies. It’s not original content. No one provided it to them or allowed them to display it. They put ads on many places so in fact, the page is created for the sole purpose of driving ad revenue, which is the exact opposite of what Google’s front-end perception is saying. They tell others to create unique, high quality content, but for themselves it doesn’t matter if they rip off other people’s stuff, just as long as users are happy and click on ads. Places is a content farm. Places needs to be shut down so that the actual businesses can once again claim their own traffic instead of allowing Google to force feed users with their own local results.

By: Bob Mansell

Bob Mansell — Thu, 27 May 2010 22:49:41 +0000

This is amazing, I wasn’t even aware that you COULD highjack a listing on Google Maps! The Microsoft listing you did… that was hilarious.

By: Google Says ‘No More’ To LBC Community Edits | Small Business Trends

Google Says ‘No More’ To LBC Community Edits | Small Business Trends — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:04:37 +0000

[...] edited Yahoo’s business listing to show it bought by Microsoft, causing Mike Blumenthal to label Microsoft an escort service. Clearly the two were doing it to make a point (and perhaps liven up an otherwise boring day), but [...]

By: Google Ends Community Editing Free-For-All In Maps

Google Ends Community Editing Free-For-All In Maps — Wed, 26 May 2010 06:10:19 +0000

[...] (See image at left.) Danny’s trickery was inspired by Mike Blumenthal, who hours earlier had changed Microsoft’s business listing with a new business name (“Microsoft Escort Services”), location, and URL. (Hehehehe. [...]

By: Google Maps UGC: End User Edits Now Require Google Review | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search

Wed, 26 May 2010 04:32:47 +0000

[...] my fall 2008 hijack of Microsoft’s unclaimed listing to demonstrate the potential for damage, edits no longer showed instantaneously in the main SERPS. [...]

By: NZ Florist Facing 7 Years for Hijacking Local Listings of Competitors in GMaps | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:03:25 +0000

[...] was widespread hijacking of florists by an affiliate spammer. Readers of this blog will remember my hijacking of the Microsoft’s listing in October. In that regard, I find Google’s comments, if accurate, somewhat [...]

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:11:25 +0000

Google did patch this vector although a number of other, more technical ones cropped up and Google is busy patching those as well.

By: Greg W

Greg W — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:10:21 +0000

What is the latest news on this? Is there an update anywhere? Has Google done anything to rectify the problem of vulnerability for having your unclaimed location hijacked? I am sure that others would like to know.
I am just curious at what level the scammers are using this information, it seems that it could be of use to them in giving out false addresses that look valid in searches.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:32:08 +0000

I have had multiple listings hijacked, and they were listings that I created and claimed. I have some listings that are “half-jacked”, my url shows up, but a competitors phone number. My favorite part is clicking on the history to see all the fun edits they have done to me.

By: Lyndon

Lyndon — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:55:48 +0000

That is very interesting! Thanks for sharing your experience in claiming maps