bots (?) continuously tp-ing in and out mall

I've noticed the same thing in my sim with these searchbots coming in and TP'ing all over multiple locations. One of them I do not mind as the bot details the information clearly in it's profile as to it's purpose. Ok, courteous disclosure of intent. That's fine with me.

However I've spotted two or three others that have similar behavior and I've sent IMs to them asking a basic inquiry "human or bot"... if I don't get a reply after a period of time I just add them to the ban list.

Anyone know if there is a central list where the bot AV names can be recorded and then eventually have their purposes identified if enough residents spot them? Or then have a full listing of known bot AVs that can be banned in bulk if desired. I know no method would be ideal or tamper proof, but just a thought.

Maybe your mall's coordinates happen to be the default location for someone's land/search/whatever bots. They'll TP there, scan for land at a certain price range, then TP out again. Sort of a "home" for the bots. Could be that whomever you bought the land from forgot to reset his bots' default locations.

Alternate theory: with new search rankings on the horizon it woud be not at all surprising for bot operators to be running a lot of tests to see what it takes to move position on the new Google Search boxes.

There is one search bot that consistently pops up around my area 4-5 times a week and sticks around for about 10-15 mins, indexing things in a seemingly random path. I don't consider this a bad thing since i've never been secretive about my dealings in world, but for those who prefer not to be indexed, I'd suggest just putting the name of the bot in your land's banlist.

I'm now getting 2 or 3 bots an hour in my sim and there's bugger all for sale there, no land for sale and looking through the list theres at least 50 different names that appear to be bots.

Why would you want to stop something that his having a positive effect on your traffic count? Leave them be, would be my advice.

Eventually you could end up with a lake full of them

they had some popping through the periwinkle infohub the other day, identical b-days, no stats, no clothes, all at the same landing spot... in for about 10 sec, then gone.... wait a few mins, here comes another...odd business.... I thought about designing weapons for the first time since I've been in SL.... I mean if they are gonna provide me with free targets and all.... =)