[Forum] Do bots/spider crawl private areas/forums?

[EffenHaute]

Can you please advise if bots/spiders crawl private areas/forums, such as the MOD & ADMIN areas?

In our "who's online", I did see a BAIDU spider in a private area.

If they DO, can you tell me how to block same?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

[Steve Machol]

Bots can only see things that Guests can see.

[EffenHaute]

Bots can only see things that Guests can see.

Thank you, Steve. If I might inquire further...

Do you have any idea why a BAIDU spider would be shown as being in a private area via "Who's Online"?

When I see a spider or bot trying to view something private, such as a user profile, I also see the "viewing no permission message". In this instance w/ this Baidu Spider, the "who's online" showed the spider in a private forum, but there was no such error message.

[Paul M]

Log out an view your forum as a guest.

Can you see the 'private' forum (going to it directly, by typing in the url).

If 'No', then spiders cannot either.

If 'Yes', then you have a permissions issue that you need to fix.

[EffenHaute]

Log out an view your forum as a guest.

Can you see the 'private' forum (going to it directly, by typing in the url).

If 'No', then spiders cannot either.

If 'Yes', then you have a permissions issue that you need to fix.

Hi Paul..

No this area cannot be viewed either as a guest or a registered member.

Must have been a fluke. Or maybe I need new glasses!

THANK YOU BOTH for your help!

[Loco.M]

They may of followed a link to a private section which would show them trying to view, but the no permissions flag should show.