Google finally defines methodology of combating click fraud

Google has finally responded to industry pundits who say click fraud is out of control. In an area I've covered many times before, my opinion here is that Google's communication to its all-important advertising customers was virtually nil regarding click fraud. It's a bad move, obviously, for Google to go into the specifics of how it monitors and catches click fraud (which would encourage more of it), but it has to figure out a way to calm the masses who may fear that they are losing millions of dollars to fraudulent clicks.

Well, Google has said now that click fraud is an largely-exaggerated problem that continues to get press and continues to fan the flames of a problem that Google says is way overblown. I guess we'll have to put 100% belief and faith in Google for that statement since it obviously cannot be proven. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but I'm wary of trusting, without proof, 100% of anything any company says. If you have that level of trust I hope you escaped the Enron scandal intact. Now, I'm not saying Google is not trustworthy -- far from it. I'm saying that turning over 100% trust *can* be a mistake. I, myself, require proof beyond the shadow of a doubt if my investing dollars are involved. Unfortunately, that is incredibly hard to find.

Which brings me back to Google. After reviewing Google's lengthy and in-depth report that battles the the actual definitions of what click fraud really is, and what some people and companies say it is, I am leaning more and more on Google's side. All it took was the Google folks to respond in a detailed and logical way, which it has, and the flames can settle down now as customers start understanding how a real definition of click fraud is calculated. Major kudos to Google here on announcing and publicizing the click fraud tracking methodology it has. As I've said before, communication is the key. Keeping quiet with pleasantries is not the best course of action.

Brian White has worked in various executive positions in technology and telecommunications and now focuses on editing and writing.