Spam, spam, spam and blogs

One of the newest frontiers is so-called spamblogs, fake blogs that use RSS feeds to create content. The splogs, as they're sometimes called, then insert links to their Web site into that content, in an attempt to trick search engines into boosting results for the spammer's sites.

The problem has been around for a while, but a sudden rush of spamblogs popped up over the weekend, many of which were created using Google's Blogger site. The current theory is that spammers had written a script that would create thousands of new blogs and posts at a time.

Bloggers wailed at Google and Blogger to do something to stop the deluge. Many calling for the company to institute a CAPTCHA block that would require human intervention for each post.

Google responded in a posting on the official Blogger blog, stating that the CAPTCHA program would not only present a major burden for legit bloggers, but would not work, since "wrong-doers are already breaking CAPTCHAs on a daily basis."

Blog community response:

"One thing we've learned from Blog Search, is that even if spam were completely solved on Blog*Spot, there would still be a problem. As others have concluded, we've realized that this is going to be an on-going challenge for Blogger, Google and all of us who are interested in making it easier for people to create and share content online."
--Blogger Buzz

"So please Google. Add a challenge system. Dump the flag you tried. It was a nice try, but doesnt get the job done."
--Blog Maverick

"Blogspot is an easy punching bag because it's one giant source host and Google's behind it and has the resources to stop it, but what can we do about the thousands and thousands of wordpress spam blogs republishing RSS feeds from others, loading them up with Adsense banners, and being hosted all over the web?"
--A Whole Lotta Nothing

"Yet another example of how any kind of automated system is eventually overcome by those looking to abuse the system leading to an ongoing horse-race between spammers and programmers."
--Techdirt.org