Spam update
An update to Google's spam-detection systems that enforces its spam policies, usually rolling out over a few days.
Spam updates improve the systems — chiefly SpamBrain, Google's machine-learning spam detection — that find content breaking Google's spam policies: link schemes, cloaking, scaled content abuse, site reputation abuse and the rest.
Unlike a core update, a site hit by a spam update usually has something specific to remove. Recovery follows fixing the violation and waiting for the systems to reassess the site, which can take months.
Policy & Penalties timeline · Latest policy & penalties news · What Google said
Recent Google updates of this kind
Latest headlines mentioning it
- Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Volatility X2, Spam Updates, AI Overviews Everywhere, Blending Ads & Organic, Google & Microsoft Earnings
- RESOLVED: September 2026 spam update
- Judge Questions Google AI, Spam Update Fallout – SEO Pulse
- Google’s August 2026 spam update hit rankings harder than normal
- Google August 2026 spam update done rolling out
- Google releases August 2026 spam update
- Google June 2026 spam update done rolling out
- Google releases June 2026 spam update