At midnight May 9, 2007, The Rich Naran Initiative posted the opening of a new series called Lawyers and Disorder. By the evening of the May 10, examination of the Google Adwords
campaign found that every major keyword to every and all articles posted at the site had been suddenly rendered inactive. In effect canceling out an ad campaign initiated May 3, 2007 and curtailing profits
How was this feat performed?
Google Analytics show that complete Initiative site had been explored within the prior twenty-four hours. Google Adwords revealed every keyword associated with any article on the site had been rendered inactive with $5 and $10 bids. This attack was a blatant action taken by exploiting the flaws in the Google system. Since the site sells itself items this also restricts the ability of the site to do business. In effect, parameters of this action possibly could fall under the jurisdiction of the RICO Act used in prosecution of the mafia and terrorist.
Why was this action performed?
I can only assume since the events took place the same day the Lawyers and Disorder series was published, somebody does not want you the public viewing of the articles of the multi part series. Exploration into lawyer misconduct not only provides details but online documentation verifying the facts detailed. I would assume a fictitiously grounded legal action to follow.
Parties indicted by inclusion?
A random check found several people, the company they work for, and a lawyer are all strangely among the words that have suddenly been rendered inactive by the $5 and $10 bids. Now I am not indicting them, but it appears to be purposely performed. I didn't bother to check how many others and I don't care. The point of the Lawyers and Disorder series is to illustrate misconduct by those cowering under the label of officers of the law. Instead, they have over reacted, which in my eyes is a clear admission of guilt.
Now that the flaw is exposed, we see the problem
The Google Adwords system is ripe for exploitation. Anyone can sneak up on a competitor and freeze their ad campaign while not actively using the keywords selected. They are taking keywords hostage to prevent free commerce on the internet. That makes every entrepreneur ripe for having their Google advertising hijacked much like mine.
What you should do?
If you have an Adwords account, I would email Google and ask how they will prevent this problem in the future. In my case, the scratch on the surface came to 38 keywords without going indepth. Imagine your commerce coming to a dead halt for 24-48 hours. It could put some people out of business.
What else can you do?
Look into the events leading up to the incident. I am reporting the keyword heist to Google. You can read the story that led to the keyword heist at rncin.com.
Educate yourself in two ways at once you are left unprotected. One by the legal system and the other by the Google system will cost you down the line. However, if I know Google they will patch their flaw rather quickly. The legal system, not so quick.
