Google Sorry

[innominds]

This is something strange:

Google Sorry...

We're sorry...
... but your computer or network may be sending automated queries. To protect our users, we can't process your request right now.

See Google Help for more information.

These days I get this info very common.

I didn't do anything wrong.

[SouthamptonAngel]

I've seen that message sometimes and it can be quite annoying. Usually goes away after 30 minutes or so I find.

[nickoran]

Are you running any rank checking software or anything like that? I often get it if i do a few "intitle:" searches too.

[innominds]

I don't use any rank checking software. That error message comes while checking the indexed pages or something like that or even while typing my own site url.

[wige]

Do you use SEOQuake or any other SEO addon in your browser? This can cause you to get the message, as can querying multiple data centers in a short time.

[dburdon]

I've had the problem on my home computer. I believed it was to do with the number of SEO add ons in Firefox. I don't have the same problem with my office PC.

[Clarrie]

Doesn't need to be your computer either - anyone else on your network using the same internet connection can trigger it for the ip address.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by Clarrie

Doesn't need to be your computer either - anyone else on your network using the same internet connection can trigger it for the ip address.

Given that each machine on a LAN is, regardless of addressing method used, uniquely identifiable, why should this be so?

[Clarrie]

Originally Posted by deepsand

Given that each machine on a LAN is, regardless of addressing method used, uniquely identifiable, why should this be so?

Um... experience tells me so! A while back one of my colleagues was experimenting with various ranking tools and hey presto, we all got blocked with the "Google sorry" message. From which we deduced that our ip was being blocked - particularly as rebooting the router to pick up a new ip address allowed us all back again straightaway.

But I understand what you say about individual machines being uniquely identifiable - I can only speculate here, but I suspect that the blocking filter does allow a high frequency of successive search queries from a single ip, provided they come from different individually identifiable machines (otherwise some large organisations using a single ip address might well be blocked more or less continuously!), but if an individual machine is detecting running a large number of high frequency automated queries it can trigger the block on the whole ip.

Sort of collective guilt and punishment

Guess the answer is not to use automated rank checkers!

[deepsand]

Was/is the LAN in question using NAT?

[thepromoshop]

I hate when that happens, usually every Friday when I check my rankings I get that.

[FuseSEO]

Originally Posted by deepsand

Given that each machine on a LAN is, regardless of addressing method used, uniquely identifiable, why should this be so?

The reason is that Google (and the rest of the internet infrastructure) idenifies users by their router/LAN IP number. Only your router can identify users inside the LAN. If this wasn't the case, then each LAN would have to be given a range of unique IP numbers to distribute to their users. IP numbers are running out as it is, so this isn't a practical solution.

I've had the same error too, usually running web ranking tools such as SEO Elite, Advanced Web Ranking or various Firefox toolbars. With most of these pieces of software you can slow down the rate that the tool queries Google, this seems to do the trick in most cases.

Also, you usually only have to wait an hour or so before Google lets you back in with entering a CAPTCHA.

[FuseSEO]

.. and I should have added that in addition to your LAN IP, Google can track individual users via cookies, browser type, browser version, operating system, google login, even screen resolution etc. So if a large organisation is using a single IP, there will still be differences between the information submitted when a user performs a query.

[nickoran]

Well for anyone getting the problem who uses rank checker, ive found that by changing the delay between queries to 2 seconds stops you getting the warning

[innominds]

who uses rank checker

It happens with everybody I suppose.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by FuseSEO

The reason is that Google (and the rest of the internet infrastructure) idenifies users by their router/LAN IP number. Only your router can identify users inside the LAN. If this wasn't the case, then each LAN would have to be given a range of unique IP numbers to distribute to their users. IP numbers are running out as it is, so this isn't a practical solution.

This is true if using NAT, which is not necessarily the case.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by FuseSEO

.. and I should have added that in addition to your LAN IP, Google can track individual users via cookies, browser type, browser version, operating system, google login, even screen resolution etc. So if a large organisation is using a single IP, there will still be differences between the information submitted when a user performs a query.

Precisely my point.

So, the question then becomes one of to what degree Google attempts to ID a specific machine.

[nickoran]

Originally Posted by deepsand

Precisely my point.

So, the question then becomes one of to what degree Google attempts to ID a specific machine.

Thats a really interesting point. we have noticed though that someone in the same office will get the same message if they type the same search query as i do on a diferent machine tho

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by nickoran

Thats a really interesting point. we have noticed though that someone in the same office will get the same message if they type the same search query as i do on a diferent machine tho

Does your LAN use NAT?

[notsoold]

I experienced the same. If you search a keyword and keep going to next page without clicking any serp results, you will get this message.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by notsoold

I experienced the same. If you search a keyword and keep going to next page without clicking any serp results, you will get this message.

Said message has nothing to do with whether or not one clicked on a listing!

It is triggered by requests being made at a sufficiently high rate so as to suggest that such are not being made by a human, but rather by an automated process.