Black Hat, White Hat....What The??

17 years ago

Originally Posted by Nathan Denton

just some food for thought, I know this thread will be hammered by those in the business.

Why is there such a high number of products and techniques coming out relating to Blackhat techniques? Based on my understanding blackhat is something a little 'rogue' and typically against the service terms of the site they are being used on. If everone is out there using their secret balckhat techniques, dont you think the big sites are going to cotton on and shut you down?

Im not involved in CPA programs at all but just wanted to throw this up.

Nathan

i recently purchased a blackhat wso, thing is u can choose to go blackhat if u want but u dont have to, a lot of those techniques can be used in a white hat kind of way if that makes sense, i know a lot of people make money using blackhat but i guess thats their choice, some very clever blackhat marketers out there though, its given me a different view on things

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[382949].message }}

AndyCamden 17 years ago

I have personally bought a few blackhat WSO's lately just cuz I was curious. However, the methods they cite in those I am going to use them for white hat purposes. Sometime Black Hat is very subjective as well.
- Thanks
Signature
FREE - 12 Videos Reveal Secrets To Meeting And Attracting Women
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[383343].message }}

James Schramko

17 years ago

Some blackhat techniques in recent WSO's teach filthy thieving methods that have zero regard for other humans. Why they sell this stuff is beyond me.

In offline business it is the equivalent of door to door flim flam scams and shoddy petty theft.

Stuff like replying to car sellers with CPA offers and manipulating would be daters with fake pictures of girls to get them to sign up to dating sites is plain scamming.

Paying people to click on offers through proxy browsers and incentivizing people with stolen game downloads at media sharing sites is just theft.

No wonder CPA companies scrub offers when they ARE being stolen from.

These cockroaches of the human race are low. It should be illegal to sell this information.

Shame on these thoughtless people.

One day they will realize that trading dollars for human suffering is unethical and bad karma.

This is NO way to build a sustainable business that you can retire on and share with your children.

[ 2 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

This is where you get real information (backed up by proven results)

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[383368].message }}

lexilexi 17 years ago

I think it's time for a new definition of black hat. I guess it's too late though.

It's the hacker argument all over again if you ask me.

Correct me if I'm wrong.... it *was* my understanding was that black hat was a form of search engine optimization - ways to artificially inflate google rankings through using scraped content to build database sites, using scripts to create multiple profiles on 2.0 sites, etc... automated link building type stuff.

- but it seems as though the term has now become degraded to mean anything shady or dubious online.

Am I just off on my own planet here?

I think the dubious stuff we should call "crack hat", and reserve the term "black hat" for the noble and scientific art of building links on auto pilot without falling foul of the dreaded algo. I guess it's too late for the term "black hat"; it's status has shifted from one of an underground, hi tech art to one of low moral character.
- Thanks
Signature

"If there is no door, it becomes necessary to break out through the wall."
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[383405].message }}

raynman

17 years ago

In the old cowboy movies the good guys (noble ones) wore the white hats while the bad guys (the dubious ones who couldn't be trusted) wore the black hats.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[384476].message }}

nipit007

17 years ago

It means what you want it to mean. It may be very harmless and hurt no one or it can be overly aggressive and down right stealing. There is such a wide range and opinions it all boils down to how its used and ones interpretation of that use. My opinion is: it can be Good, Bad, or Ugly. Whats your opinion?

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[384927].message }}

Nathan Denton

17 years ago

Subjectivity is the key. For those involved in "Black hat" techniques i think they would class them as Good whilst those who are taken advantage of would call them Bad.

i personally don't see the point of partaking in any illegal or immoral techniques to try and earn a quick buck. Like James said, it is no way to build a sustainable business as in most cases the technique will be short lived until it is picked up by the CPA companies.

Thanks

Signature

Online marketing, offline marketing and various other things.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[385976].message }}

Kyle L Hannah

17 years ago

The facts are this ... Most marketers online and offline use blackhat methods in one way, shape or form.

Most don't even realize it.

It's simply a means to get an edge on your competition.

Now what brick and mortar business Doesn't try and do that?

Hmmm... NONE

Look at a company like Wal-Mart ... Technically what they do is certainly considered black hat in the offline sense, different beer but same mug...

There are certainly different extremes in the black hat sense, some things may be considered to far over the edge while others are just slightly bending the rules.

One's personal opinion on it is what it all boils down to.

I personally consider super black hat the equivalent of "phishing" scams or money laundering, but that's me. Someone else might consider it simply incentivizing an offer that according to the TOS on the network is not allowed. Hence there are many different definitions.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[386195].message }}

bruintws

Banned 17 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[388218].message }}

RogerAderholdt 17 years ago

For me - my reputation is much more valuable than earning a few bucks or even a few 1,000's bucks. I will stick to the WHITE Hat.
- Thanks
Signature
Get entire State B2B Leads for only $20.00 or get 1,000 Surveyed MLM Leads for your business for only $20.00. Check it out at: http://www.mlmleadsbusiness.com/
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[398484].message }}

Taal

17 years ago

I think people like the dirtiness of black hat in a way, like getting away with something. Just like when your mom told you you couldn't have anymore cookies. You wanted them even more.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[406305].message }}

Stephen Liew 17 years ago

I will use black hat to test the market and conversation. If it is a good product, will switch to white hat and build a steady "white hat" income.
- Thanks
Signature
Professional Link Building Service | Perfect List Builder
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[407960].message }}

newbie@CPA

17 years ago

interesting argument.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[409293].message }}

Linda B 17 years ago

The Black Hat, White Hat distinction has been argued for years. It's really basically all in the eye of the beholder. Just a couple of years ago, most people in this forum would have considered using submission tools - such as auto bookmarking, auto article submissions, directory submissions - to be Black Hat. Nowadays, not so much. Considering the number of links it takes these days to get decent positions in Google, auto submission is almost a requirement (either that or paying someone to do it for you). I can't see how anyone could consider automation to be an "immoral" tactic, and yet some do.

I really don't consider a technique to be Black Hat unless it's harming someone. I don't consider bending Google's rules a bit to be Black Hat. After all, you've paid for your hosting and spent the time building your site. Who are they to decide how you will build your business, as long as you are not hurting theirs. They may decide not to index you - that's their business - but they don't have a right to dictate to you. We really need a new definition, since everyone has a different idea, and it's hard to discuss something when we aren't talking about the same thing.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[409782].message }}
- markdsullivan 17 years ago
  
  I just bought a Blackhat WSO not too long ago out of curiosity and realized I was ALREADY DOING BLACKHAT STUFF lol... but, it's definitely not something that can sustain longterm income...
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[410474].message }}

Nathan Denton

17 years ago

i guess the definition of "Blackhat" is clearly in the eye of the user. What may be considered as blackhat could very well be within the rules and TOS of some sites, it may just be a 'sneaky' method of doing something.

One thing is for sure, using the term Blackhat in any product title will guarantee you a lot of page views and curiosity.

Thanks

Signature

Online marketing, offline marketing and various other things.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[414005].message }}

zhanly

17 years ago

I always want to know more Blackhat tactics, because sometime I think i can get more idea on how people doing things, how they could think out-side the box, etc. You just can't ignore it completely even if you're Whitehat marketer.

Just my opinion

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[415165].message }}

ebizza

17 years ago

The best marketers use both for balance.

Blackhat is all about automation.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[415237].message }}

TommyG

17 years ago

I agree with Zhanly. I don't care to do blackhat simply because I don't want my business to suffer or my accounts closed but I do like to know what is being done simply to be aware of it.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[417457].message }}

glofish

17 years ago

Black hat is a no no for me. The question is why? If you've done your research, you should be in a position where you don't need to resolve to black hat. There's plenty of rewards to go around for white hat practices.

Thanks

Signature

Right Back At Ya!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[429388].message }}

aurora ice

17 years ago

black hat sometimes are white hat as well. it depends on how a person use it..

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[434282].message }}

Black Hat, White Hat....What The??

Trending Topics

Why 2026 could be the year of anti-AI marketing

Don't set new years resolutions

How to add Backlink ? I am under thread of losing the job

Is Off-page SEO become hard as Ai Energizes

Which Social Platform Is Giving You the Best ROI This Year?