What are these Yahoo[Bot] and MSNbot all about?

[Laraso]

On the active users list I always see Yahoo[Bot] and MSBbot and stuff like that. Whats up with that?

[RedAdder]

These are the webspiders of the search engines which collect web site data.

[moved to off topic.]

[MC707]

I recommended the admins to hide them (as many forums do), but it appears they don't want to (or can't?).

[loki1950]

Ace123 set them up that way when we moved to version 3 of phpBB i could change it so they are hidden but i would prefer to to do that after consultation with him and www2 in other words the active admins but for the record i like knowing they are about as i reminds people that this is a public place,and maybe influence the tone of there post accordingly.I am not in the habit of googling myself but have had a few of my own posts turn up while doing a few searches on specific things and one can also limit a google search to a specific domain such as the forum i find it a bit better than phpBB's search function

Enjoy the Choice

[MC707]

I see. My mistake then

[loki1950]

No harm done was there besides it brings things into the open where all the community can comment as you may have gathered by now i like transparency in any administration.

Enjoy the Choice

[MC707]

No harm done was there

thanks

besides it brings things into the open where all the community can comment as you may have gathered by now i like transparency in any administration.

I'm really glad to hear that. Fair and square

[Laraso]

Didn't even notice this was moved until I tried to look back at if for answers. Well, this explains it. I just don't think they should count towards the registered users, because how can we say our most users online was 132 or something if 5 of them were bots? That would be a lie. Unless thats the only way it can work, then I'm perfectly fine with that also.

[MC707]

Unless thats the only way it can work, then I'm perfectly fine with that also.

Nope. As Loki already said, you can hide bots but they decided not to. Anyway, I guess it really doesn't matter. They give us company when no one is around