Google.by

Infobox Website
name = Google.by



caption =
url = http://www.google.by
commercial = yes
type = Search engine
language = Belarusian
registration = no
owner = ActiveMedia
author = ActiveMedia
launch date = 2003
current status = active
revenue =
slogan =

Google.by is a domain/website owned by Belarusian web-development company ActiveMedia. The website looks almost exactly like Google homepage, but has the "context advertisements" on the right, one of which is always advertising the official ActiveMedia web-site, while the others may be purchased from the company. These commercials once created false rumors about Google starting to place them on its homepage.

The website came up in 2003; in the beginning it had its own interface, totally different from Google, and its own search database, which listed only a few thousand Belarusian sites. Later, the actual Google interface and logo were implemented. The fake interface has Russian and Belarusian versions, with Belarusian version having spelling errors ("У інтернэце" instead of "У інтэрнэце"). The [http://www.google.com] search form then posts the search requests to an actual search application on google.com.

According to the article published on eWeek.com web-site, the search company representative stated that Google.by "is not owned, operated or controlled by Google", and that Google is "aware of this site, and its legal counsel is investigating the matter".

However, no legal remedy has been reached due to a complex legal situation in Belarus.

On August 21, 2006 the web-site was hacked by a hacker named JaMaYcKa. Other sites located on ActiveMedia reseller account, were hacked as well, but in a few days they were restored.

References

* [http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1907769,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594 Google Investigates Fake Site]
* [http://www.br23.net/en/2006/01/04/my-little-investigation-about-googleby/ My little investigation about Google.by]
* [http://it-belarus.net/news/read/2006/09/3/ Google.by восстановлен после хакерской атаки]

ee also

*.by
*Google
*CyberSquatting

External links

* [http://google.by Google.by homepage]