Google’s Latest SPAM Update Announced

On Wednesday, Google took to Twitter to announce that it started rolling out its new October 2022 Google Spam Update. 

Google October 2022 Spam Announcement on Twitter

This new Google algorithm update should be completely rolled out in a week.  By that time you should be able to see if it has impacted your site’s Google search results or not.

Here’s what Google had to say about this new update:

“Google Search spam updates and your site

While Google’s automated systems to detect search spam are constantly operating, we occasionally make notable improvements to how they work. When we do, we refer to this as a spam update and share when they happen on our list of Google Search ranking updates.

For example, SpamBrain is our AI-based spam-prevention system. From time-to-time, we improve that system to make it better at spotting spam and to help ensure it catches new types of spam.

Sites that see a change after a spam update should review our spam policies to ensure they are complying with those. Sites that violate our policies may rank lower in results or not appear in results at all. Making changes may help a site improve if our automated systems learn over a period of months that the site complies with our spam policies.” 

What Is the Google Spam Update?

Google Spam Updates are completely normal and are released on a regular basis. This is to help Google offer the best possible Search Results to its users.

Contrary to what you may think, the Google Spam Update does not have to do with the quality of the content on your site. If you have poor quality content or thin content available your site is more likely to have suffered from Google’s recent Helpful Content Algorithm update.

Instead, Google considers SPAM sites to be those that participate in installing malicious software (malware) onto visitors’ computers, or sites that trick users into providing sensitive and personal information.

Who Will Be Impacted By The Google October 2022 Spam Update?

Only sites that are found to be participating in phishing schemes or are placing malware on visitors’ computers should be impacted by this new Google Update.

If you have been and are currently following the Google set guidelines your website should not be hit by this October 2022 Spam Algorithm Update. But, if you do end up seeing a drop in rankings or visits to your site following this update we suggest you check your site’s security and for malware because it is possible that your site has been compromised! 

What Should I Do If My Site Is Impacted By Google October 2022 Spam Update?

When Google’s new Spam Update impacts a site its rankings will be negatively impacted. So what should you do? 

If you are not participating in phishing or in placing malware on visitors’ computers you should immediately check your site for signs of tampering.  Your site may have been compromised.  

If you make the necessary changes to your site keep in mind that it can still take months to recover from the Google October 2022 Update.

Cari Bacon, Associate Director of SEO at Direct Agents