If you’ve used the IP deny mgr in Cpanel to add that list of IP ranges, Jin, that’s all you need to do right now for protecting your sites from GWA. Adding the autoblink.js file as well will keep autolink at bay. Things may change; the web is not static, and it won’t be long before nasty things begin to happen with GWA – I would bet good money that the common thief out there has already cranked up GWA and gone surfing for holes.
The business with autolink is a whole other can of worms. The main problem with it is really only germane to people who monetize their sites by linking to THEIR CHOICE of businesses; what autolink does is (for those running the toolbar – in other words, those who have opted-in) is redo the on-page links with GOOGLE’S CHOICE of providers/businesses. If you don’t want to link to Amazon, autolink doesn’t care – that’s where it changes your on-page bookstore or other links to go.
And this is “do no evil”. I’d sure hate to meet whatever google thinks IS evil!
[Edit: Jin, the problem here is not with the innocent “I want to make my experience better” surfer. It’s with those who will always seek to cause trouble, steal, etc. And the bottom-line problem is that google has not allowed for any “opt-out” measures for the webmaster. That’s what’s unconscionable about it.]
