A footprint in the context of PBNs is any traceable pattern or shared technical characteristic that links two or more supposedly independent websites together, revealing them to be under common ownership. These clues can range from identical IP addresses, shared Google Analytics or AdSense codes, and identical WHOIS data, to less obvious similarities like using the same plugin stack or identical boilerplate legal text. The presence of these footprints is what allows search engines to identify the entire network as a single manipulative entity, making diversification the core defence against detection.
Synonyms:
footprint, PBN footprints
