Google Is About to Punish Websites for That Annoying Browser Back Button Trick


Have you ever been trapped by a web page, unable to use the back button to get back to the site you were previously browsing, powerless to do anything but sigh and sacrifice the whole browser tab? Turns out that you may have been the victim of “back-button hijacking,” a practice that Google is cracking down on starting on June 15.

As defined by Google, back-button hijacking occurs “when a site interferes with a user’s browser navigation and prevents them from using their back button to immediately get back to the page they came from.”

This navigational interference can present itself in multiple ways, like locking a user onto their current webpage, presenting unsolicited ads or sending users to completely new pages instead of their intended destination.

Now, Google is adding back-button hijacking to the list of malicious practices covered by its spam policies. According to the company, these practices lead to “a negative and deceptive user experience or compromised user security or privacy.” That means the search giant is classifying the practice as being as offensive as unwanted software executables and malware.

While Google instated its new rules on Tuesday, it won’t start punishing offenders until June 15. According to the company’s blog post, this two-month window has been designated to give website owners enough time to make the necessary changes. This entails removing scripts or techniques that insert or replace webpages in someone’s browser history.

Google will also penalize websites that unintentionally engage in back-button hijacking caused by third-party software on the site.

Websites that don’t make the changes by the deadline could be subject to manual spam actions or to automatically lowered rankings in search engine results. Once a manual spam action has been taken against a website, it can only be removed by fixing the offense and submitting the site for review.

A Google representative did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.





Source link

Leave a Reply

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get our latest articles delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, we promise.

Recent Reviews


Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.


It’s officially springtime, which means we’re due for another Amazon Big Spring Sale. Ahead of the deal event, which starts on March 25, several robot vacuums are on sale, including top-end modelds from brands like Ecovacs, Dreame, Roborock, and more. 

Also: I’ve tested dozens of robot vacuums. These are the three I recommend most to family and friends

We’ve tested several of the latest robot vacuums, bringing them into our homes and letting them tackle the messiest of messes from kids, pets, muddy shoes, and more. You can expect more deals on this list as we get closer to the sale, so be sure to check back for updates. In the meantime, these are the best deals you can shop.

Best early Amazon Spring Sale robot vacuum deals

  • Current price: $540 (10% off)
  • Original price: $600

Dreme’s high-end vacuum is over half off its original price, and it’s still one of our favorites. Thanks to its strong 12,000Pa suction, high performance on carpet and hard floors, and exceptional object avoidance, it’s one of the best robot vacuums you can buy.

Review: Dreame X40 Ultra


Show more

  • Current price: $1,100 (31% off)
  • Original price: $1,600

This robot vacuum is adept at navigating complex spaces in your home and mopping hard-to-reach corners. It uses rotating mop pads instead of rollers. 

Review: Roborock Saros 10R


Show more

  • Current price: $1,293 (19% off)
  • Original price: $1,599

If you’re looking for an alternative to mainstream brands, the Mova Mobius 60 delivers. Its intuitive mop features automatically employ one of three mops to properly clean tough stains and messes. 

Review: Mova Mobius 60


Show more

  • Current price: $700 (30% off)
  • Original price: $1,000

This robot vacuum features 20,000Pa suction, intuitive object avoidance, and impressive mopping capabilities. At this sale price, it’s the best time to buy.

Review: Eufy Omni E28


Show more

  • Current price: $679 (48% off)
  • Original price: $1,300

This Ecovacs robot promises 16,600Pa suction, an independent mop, side brush, and main brush lift system, and simultaneous carpet cleaning and drying. 

Review: Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni


Show more

When is Amazon’s Spring Sale? 

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale begins on Wednesday, March 25, and ends on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. 

How did we choose these early Amazon Spring Sale deals?

ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy — devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. We’ve thoroughly tested every robot vacuum on this list, letting them into our homes and tackling life’s biggest messes. 





Source link