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Google offers advice on how SEOs can deal with the Log4j vulnerability
The Log4j vulnerability has fatally affected millions of systems and has been termed as “one of the worst cybersecurity flaws to have been discovered”. Site owners are in a state of panic and are taking their websites offline to limit the damage and prevent them from being completely hacked.
What is Log4j vulnerability 2021?
Attackers have found a vulnerability in the Log4j software, which is an open-source logging library used by millions of companies and government websites. This enables hackers to record all manner of activities that happen on a computer. It grants them access to an application or website, and could potentially let them run malicious software on a device or servers.
Companies such as Apple, Amazon, Cloudflare, Microsoft, CISCO, Google, all use this open-source library. It is used for various use cases such as logging activities, monitoring the total memory used, user commands that are typed into the console, etc.
What should SEOs do to cope with the Log4j vulnerability?
If your website is hit by the Log4j vulnerability, it can massively affect your SEO performance. Google has offered some advice on how you can safely take your website offline without affecting your SEO.
Google’s John Mueller has provided the following recommendations:
Make a static copy of the website
If you have decided to take your website offline, it is worth keeping a static copy of your website online. This will allow both the users and the Googlebot to still access the majority of the content on your pages. This will also avoid your site from being deindexed.
Point DNS to the static copy
Make sure that the DNS address points to this static copy of the website.
Use Same URLs
By using the same URLs, you will still be able to retain your rankings in Google Search once your website is live again.
It is important to note that this approach will not work for all types of websites.
Key Takeaway
The Log4j vulnerability is a serious cybersecurity threat and should not be taken lightly. We recommend you download the latest security patches and keep all your applications up to date. Till the issue is fully resolved, the best solution is to take your website offline, especially the pages that contain critical and confidential information. Make sure you follow the best practices mentioned by Google to minimize the impact of the Log4j vulnerability on your SEO performance.
