Just wanted to see if there was a preferred way of preventing search engines from indexing file uploads. Example, one site is using Gravity forms as the way for students to upload their essays for an essay contest. I just want to make sure that those essays are protected against search engines. Other than just placing a special robots.txt file in the /wp-content/uploads/gravity_forms/ folder, is there something else that should be done?
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Best way to protect file uploads
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I'll ask around, but I believe placing a robots.txt file is going to be your best bet.
The search engines would only be able to index files that are linked to from a public page. If you have nothing linking to those files, the search engines are going to find them.
But placing a robots.txt with no follow would certainly add some additional protection to tell search spiders to stay away.
Posted 15 years ago on Wednesday November 11, 2009 | Permalink
