May 11, 2008
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Who remember a post that I did about strange rss? Now if you see and search with the keyword “googlelady” you will see behind the title a note “This site may harm your computer”. Why is that? This is a new worm/spyware/trojan/virus that is spreading around the net and I call that virus a Social Networking Virus.
Before I start to explain this remember the rumor that I posted few days ago that Google will de-index all wordpress blogs? In a way is happening and you will know why.
I received a warning email from Google in one of my email accounts with this domain (they usually send email to the following usernames:
* abuse@yourdomain.com
* admin@yourdomain.com
* administrator@yourdomain.com
* contact@yourdomain.com
* info@yourdomain.com
* postmaster@yourdomain.com
* support@yourdomain.com
* webmaster@yourdomain.com
If you have one of those usernames in your email and you have this worm you will be contacted by Google as well. Googlelady.com have been hitted by this worm and I have been working in this issue for 10 hours straight and finally fixed.
Two reasons why your Blog is Hacked
- 1. The reason is because Googlelady.com was upgraded to the latest wordpress version 2 weeks ago, and it seems that old version of wordpress have a backdoor that a “cracker” or “Script Kiddie” (Not Hacker, because hackers don’t harm) can install a code/worm in your blog. It is an iframe that is installed in header or in the footer of your blog.
- 2. I never have seen a “smart” virus like this before but if your blog is upgraded with the latest wordpress version Watch out your computer, if you have this worm installed (you got them from other blogs that have been hacked) and you own a blog, then your blog is also infected. How is the process? When you are login as an administrator in your blog then the virus will sign out from your blog automatically and then the same virus automatically install the virus/worm in your blog.
Googlelady had both issue, the blog was infected because old version and after I upgraded to the new wordpress version I didn’t scanned my computer for viruses (even didn’t bothered to have an updated virus in one of my laptops) so then I got the virus installed in my blog from my computer. This is really a wise virus!
What do you think the effects of this virus? Googlelady have been dropped from major keywords that I was ranking at the top but the only keyword that I am not dropped is with “Googlelady” (Till now). So now tell me that You don’t believe that Google will de-index and remove all wordpress blogs from their search engines (In this case just Infected Wordpress Blogs. In a way the rumor was true 
).
The Solution
- Step 1: Download Spybot Search & Destroy which is a spyware/malware scanner. Install it and upgrade (before you scan) it. Then scan your computer with Spybot search & Destroy
- Step 2: Download a good antivirus. If you want my opinion I ordered an excellent (and the best) antivirus Kaspersky. Install your antivirus and update it for the latest antivirus definition. Then Run it in all your computer files
- Step 3: After you have cleaned your computer with both software that i mentioned now is time to clean your blog. Check your header.php, footer.php & index.php. If you don’t find anything is because your blog have been infected through your computer and this is the worst part. You now have to check each new post that you already published and see if you see any wired code (iframe or any unknown link) remove them in each post that you find and save it. If you want to make something better. Backup your Blog files, save your wp-config.php file and delete all your blog files (including the themes). Then upload the new version and upload your old wp-config.php and then upgrade it. Now you have a new fresh blog with the content. If you delete the blog files you are not deleting the posts there.
- Step 4: Now that you are sure that your computer and blog are clean and save go to your Google webmaster tool, if you don’t have one create going to google.com and “my account” at the top of this page, then go to webmaster tools and register your blog under that account (there is a step by step process) then send them a message explaining what you did and you have been cleaned all the mess. Then go to Stop BadWare then make a search if your site is there. If you find your site there click on “request for review” and explain them as well the situation.
- Step 5: WAIT for both parties answers.
Possible Virus Name
- Trojan program Trojan.Win32.Tiny.e
- Trojan program Trojan.Win32.Tiny.e
- virus IM-Worm.Win32.Sohanad.bm
If you really want to help your readers and bloggers to prevent this issue spread the word and let them know about this article.
Posted in Webmasters 
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May 11, 2008
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Last Month I wrote about Landing Page Load Time Affects Quality Score. Yesterday the official adwords blog announced the following:
In early March, we announced that we’d soon incorporate an additional factor into Quality Score, namely landing page load time — where load time is defined as the amount of time it takes for a user to see the landing page after clicking an ad. Now, we’d like to post with an update.
Starting today, load time evaluations will be displayed on the Keyword Analysis page, for your review. We suggest taking some time to evaluate and understand this information because, starting mid-June, landing page load time will be incorporated into your Quality Score.
Once you’ve had the chance to review and evaluate this information, you may wish to make changes to improve your landing page load time. People who click your ads may well thank you for it, by becoming your satisfied customer.
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Posted in Google Adwords No Comments »
May 10, 2008
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I have been a commission juction member since 2002 under the name of eTalk Network and also have my personal account which have been since 2003. I will not mix both accounts here but let me talk about my personal Commission Juction account.
I can say that what is good about Commission Juction is the big variety of programs that they provide to the publisher and that is normal because they have been in the industry long ago. But I describe them as an “Old Fashion” affiliate program. Lately, I have seen many affiliate programs getting out from Commission Juction and going to another affiliate network or their in-house affiliate program.
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Posted in Affiliate Programs 2 Comments »
May 9, 2008
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Affiliate marketing is publicized as one of the easiest and most effective ways to generate money online but it is not quite as easy as it appears to be. The smart affiliate marketer plans every action and implements every action the best way he can. He should also increase the potential to earn by utilizing the right tools necessary for a thriving affiliate marketing business.
The first and most important tool an affiliate marketer must have is his or her own website. The first step in any successful affiliate marketing business is building a good, credible and professional looking website. Your website is the jumping off point of all your marketing efforts. Build a user-friendly website, which will attract your prospects and motivate them to click on the links to the products and services you are promoting and make a purchase. My recommendation is to not have a plain html website but a Blog. You can check the best blog hosting that you can find and start from there.
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Posted in Affiliate Marketing / PPC No Comments »
May 7, 2008
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Is there a demand for affiliate marketers today? Yes, there is a huge demand. One of the challenges faced in the affiliate marketing industry is that it sometimes sounds too good to be true: advertising that’s guaranteed to work or it’s free! Newcomers wonder if it’s possible, and skeptics claim that the cost effective prices of affiliate marketing lower the bar for online advertising. But there is a good reason that affiliate marketing has experienced steady growth throughout the ups and downs of online advertising—it works. And affiliate marketing has evolved to become a reliable source of sales for a wide range of marketers.
Affiliate marketing has evolved from the early years when some touted it as the future of online advertising, and others claimed it was the downfall of the medium. It’s now a sophisticated channel that generates anywhere from five to 25% of online sales for many of the world’s biggest brands.
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Posted in Affiliate Marketing / PPC 1 Comment »
May 6, 2008
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The Last time I posted about a rumor that said that Google Rumors: Google PageRank To Be Reset and many other points. Something happened “similar” to those rumors. Google started to decrease the pagerank of the blogs, some of them got penalized because using X programs that pays blogger to post reviews/links.
Now this time, the rumors are coming from the same webmasters and some of them in places like forums that Google have some people there to post announcements and sometimes answer some questions for Google services. Everything started when Wordpress people announced their new version 2.5 and after few days they announced again that there is a new version of the Blog Platform and bloggers should upgrade ASAP.
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Posted in Search Engines 4 Comments »
May 6, 2008
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This is a question that one of my loyal readers is asking all the time:
Hi Sandra I would like to ask you something how much can an authority site make in advertising a month?
By Authority site nowadays it has to be many factors not only to rank well on Search Engine but let’s see some points:
- Big RSS Readership: Yes, Many advertisers nowadays focuss on RSS readership. So start building yours. But start from here signup to my RSS.
- Unique Visitors & Pageviews: This is another factor that advertisers look at, how many unique visitors you have and how many pageviews. Personally, as an advertiser point of view I will look first on How Many Unique visitors the site have.
- Ranking Well On Search Engines: This is one of the major points, I prefer always to check first on Google or any other search engine if the site is ranking well in some of their keywords.
- Alexa Ranking: Some advertisers still check Alexa ranking, but hey no one see that alexa ranking are a little bit crazy nowadays?
So Now how much can an authority site make in Advertising in a Month? How much a site should ask? Let’s see 2 examples:
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Posted in Webmasters No Comments »
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