Google fixes flaw that scrubbed websites from search index

Google has disabled a feature that could allow people to remove websites from its search index following a problematic discovery by an astute observer.

James Breckenridge, operations director at UK Web Media, wrote on his personal blog that he was using Google's webmaster tools, used for maintaining websites, and found he could delete any website from Google's search index by manipulating the URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

A site address must be included in Google's index for the search giant's engine to include that site in any relevant search results.

Breckenridge said he was deleting "thousands" of sites from the index when he accidentally deleted one that he had no relation to.

"I can't believe I am the only person to figure this out, and there are a number of things that could be happening right now if this information is already in the wrong hands," Breckenridge wrote.

:story: Full story: Computerworld