In a move to improve user experience, Google has announced it will penalise websites that interfere with the browser’s back button, a practice known as back button hijacking.
The company said this behaviour has been increasing and will now be treated as a “malicious practice” under its Search spam policies. Websites found using such techniques may face lower rankings in search results.
Back button hijacking involves scripts or methods that prevent users from easily returning to the previous page or redirect them to unintended pages. This disrupts normal browsing and creates a frustrating experience.
Google has warned site owners against using “any script or technique that inserts or replaces deceptive or manipulative pages into a user’s browser history that prevents them from using their back button to immediately get back to the page they came from.”
The company noted that such issues can sometimes occur unintentionally, especially through third-party advertising platforms. However, website owners are still responsible for ensuring their sites do not engage in these practices.
The new policy will come into effect on June 15. After that, websites using back button hijacking techniques will be subject to penalties in Google Search rankings.
For users, this change is expected to make browsing smoother and less disruptive. For website owners, it signals the need to review scripts and ensure compliance with Google’s updated guidelines.
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