The Art Of Crushing Spies / Reverse Engineers of Internet Businesses

[GNews]

I think we always talk about our 'offense' but what about the defense?

The internet used to be a relatively safe place, just for idealists just 12-15 years ago. New ideas were looked at as crazy and so-called 'nerd people' thrived, proving the 'cool & *current* people' wrong.

COPY CATS, PROWL THE INTERNET​

NOW......................... because of the influx of money and fame brought to tech gurus & social media stars, COPY CATS ARE EVERYWHERE.

There are countries who's whole culture thrives off the ability to steal ideas , with no moral code or care to understand a moral code. Then there's the plastic Hollywood type of people from all places in the world, who will steal an idea just to 'look good.' Doesn't matter that they can't manage the idea nor grow it, just being a 'thief' is their lifestyle and they thrive off taking from others.

Because of these types of people, it's important to recognize people who spy on your project and the people looking to reverse engineers.

Defining:
Spies - Generally a person who sees you are doing good and instead of paying for your service/ideas/consultation, they rahter just try to pry it out of you.​

Reverse engineering - once a spy has vital information on what you're doing to be successful (a content niche, a product, a new service)... they then try to use it without giving credit and will try their best to max it out before you can.

Tips on recognizing / Experiences​

Simple. They ask questions that come off as awkward and inconsistent with people with the same 'needs' that you usually encounter. Whether a client, a perspective buyer, or just a forum member talking to you 'for no reason'' in DM.... Do not let your 6th sense (The spidey sense) for bullshit escape you. Be firm on your views and don't be afraid to lose some bucks playing it safe.

What I've seen people do:
1) On Flippa, a guy threatened to have my listing shut down if i didn't send him my analytics. All of my analytics were verified and posted on the auction listing. THerefore, I contacted Flippa and let them know my credentials and associations, and how that threat made the buying pool there look like trash. The guy's account was deleted.

2) On this forum, I've had people appproach me to help me get out of a low spot of life. Turn around and try to use my idea. Then when that didn't work, they attacked me on this forum, trying to slander me. POS exist everywhere. They hate the truth, trust nobody with your 'baby'. Not even here. Their anger is just proof you're more successful than them and on a great path. Nobody with something to do is focused on what someone else has to do in a forum. REALITY.

3) I've had fake clients pop up in forums and on skype from my post here (and other forums before). These people pose extra oddball questions like "What do i get for ______" as if it's not listed with detail on the forum. Not only this however, they then start asking for extreme details instead of having an objective to share with you nor just purchasing, knowing what they need.

Also, some will approach you with some fairy tale story about "i found you via random search on google/skype/facebook.' That shit's not true and real businesses don't find random business for quality, high end services via a random search on social media without a reputation check. Just my opinion and I'd be willing to put money on it.

^ if either of these happen. Just know your idea is HOT and you're on your way because you're on the edge. You're the new wave and they want in.

What to do with the eTrash? ​

Take them out.
Either ignore them until they fade away OR give them poison.

Ignoring is a great way to resolve issues. However, many times people who are 'fake' will persist. They live & thrive in this lifestyle. To them, it's not wasting time because they can find a 'sucker' time to time to keep hope alive. Don't be that 'sucker. ' TAKE THEM OUT!

If ignoring them isn't work. Feed them poison. If they aren't spending money within a reasonable time and asking clearly awkward questions about your business......... tell them something that will damage their product. If they dont' spend with you, it doesn't matter what happens to them. Let their negative deeds be repaid to them in the form of 'negative ideas.'

What I do? I like to 'take them out' more than ignore them. If you're not spending money, nor are we friends who exchange information, then you are simply building a snake version of my business. What do you do with a snake when you're sharp ? You cut it's head off right? RIGHT!


Some may disagree with some of these tactics. However, i think this 'defensive' stance is something that is needed more and more today.

An internet post for those trying to stop people from reverse engineering product:
https://cofounderslab.com/discuss/how-do-you-prevent-product-reverse-engineering

Adweek charges for such content :
https://www.adweek.com/digital/3-wa...ching-your-business-and-how-stop-them-174756/

Corporate Spying article:
https://www.infoworld.com/article/2650884/how-to-spot----and-stop----a-corporate-spy.html
^ Information is VALUABLE. In this age, worth BILLIONS! Don't underestimate your own value.

 

[Stones]

I just want to throw this in here. Not sure if it fits with your post, but i'm in the serps everyday and when I find an anomaly, I can't help but dig. I want to know why this person/page/site is ranking. I track a range of domains (and a couple of general niches)that I know great people are working.

And I have no problem trying to emulate where they are winning. You can call it copying it if you like, but if I find what you (not you in particular, a generalised you) have done and it's working gangbusters and then I've mapped your network, linking structure or whatever it is, then that's my win.

There's a lot of smart folks out there and when you see someone quietly pocketing $ like it's 2013, why not take a run at it.

I've been tracking some genius and their complete domination of a niche starting approx a year ago. Charting the strategy and how it's evolved and the comendable levels he/she/it has gone to cover the tracks. Does that genius have a patent on the strategy? No.

You can guard yourself against some low tier approach or threat, but if I find a nugget in the serps or a tactical change in strategy on one of the sites that I follow, that's mine.

Carpe Diem.

 

[JamaicanMoose]

I just want to throw this in here. Not sure if it fits with your post, but i'm in the serps everyday and when I find an anomaly, I can't help but dig. I want to know why this person/page/site is ranking. I track a range of domains (and a couple of general niches)that I know great people are working.

And I have no problem trying to emulate where they are winning. You can call it copying it if you like, but if I find what you(not you in particular, a generalised you) have done and it's working gangbusters and then I've mapped your network, linking structure or whatever it is, then that's my win.

There's a lot of smart folks out there and when you see someone quietly pocketing $ like it's 2013, why not take a run at it.

I've been tracking some genius and their complete domination of a niche starting approx a year ago. Charting the strategy and how it's evolved and the comendable levels he/she/it has gone to cover the tracks. Does that genius have a patent on the strategy? No.

You are a big boy and can guard yourself against some low tier approach or threat, but if I find a a nugget in the serps or a tactical change in strategy on one of the sites that I follow, that's mine.

Carpe Diem.

I also copy the crap out of my successful competitors. No sense spending tons of $$ and time in reinventing the wheel.

 

[secretagentdad]

My big one is don’t let your competitors or your haters on the mailing list. Ever.

That means no free emails to.

We have a very stratified and distorted economy right now. You’re probably better off looking through your email lists and sending customized media to the top prospects anyway.

 

[GNews]

I also copy the crap out of my successful competitors. No sense spending tons of $$ and time in reinventing the wheel.

Do you talk to them? Do they talk to you?

You can copy things a million times but have you ever topped them?

And if they don't talk to you.. and you've never topped them.... to me, it just further certifies my point.

What do you value your potential as living like that?

Even if you've done that, what percentage have done this?

WE THINK DIFFERENT. Which is cool.

As I said. People who thrive to copy others.... will forever be content 'copying' and looking for more to copy.

2 friends of mine.... Both are very interesting guys (Kevin Henrikson and Dave from FreeWebLayouts (#1 Adsense earnings back when Adsense was WORTH SOMETHING). They won't 'copy competition.' If they see something as a great idea, it's because it's worth more than what the inventor can afford to 'reach.' Higher potential than it's hovering at.

They just buy the shit out...... real business........ One bought my first major website.. And then i brokered deals with other sites to him for a % of the sell. But hey, this guy's though process is why he's a billionaire .......................... far from the normal IQ. Only person I ever met in life who without talking much, I just knew he was sharper than me in every part of the conversation pretty much. He realized i was good at spotting the trends early...... and activated my views of my own skillsets.

And there's a difference between sharing vital information with your competition and having competition.

I can be inspired by others... But I just don't even have interests in studying other people. I find more pleasure in adventuring into new forefronts. Im a gambler though.. Def takes strong will, major confidence, and the ability to not give a fuck what people think.

PS: The only reason I mention their names is because it's already in the news.

 

[GNews]

Awesome video of this genius kid "Nipsey Hussle" talking about escaping 'survival mode'

People who live to copy = surviving

 

[JamaicanMoose]

Do you talk to them? Do they talk to you?

You can copy things a million times but have you ever topped them?

And if they don't talk to you.. and you've never topped them.... to me, it just further certifies my point.

What do you value your potential as living like that?

No, I don't talk to them. Why would I?

I frequently beat them because my domain is stronger, content is fresher, and backlinks to that page are newer/stronger/higher quantity.

Of course there's value in doing that. If it didn't provide a steady ROI, I wouldn't do it.

 

[GNews]

No, I don't talk to them. Why would I?

I frequently beat them because my domain is stronger, content is fresher, and backlinks to that page are newer/stronger/higher quantity.

Of course there's value in doing that. If it didn't provide a steady ROI, I wouldn't do it.

Survive how you can. As long as you're happy.

 

[Samwise89]

I laughed at "eTrash"

Corporate espionage is a big deal. Anyone interested in the topic should watch the movie Wall Street. There's information gathering and information brokering, and it's all legal to a degree. Then there's stuff like insider trading that's very illegal.

I agree that you should defend yourself from spying as much as you can. I agree you should spy as much as you can (until it gets eTrashy, like trying to befriend people and get them to expose their secrets).

But poking around at people's backlinks is no worse than doing SEO while looking at what Google prefers to rank at the moment.

We all have to show our cards. We have to hit "publish" at some point, and Google has to display the SERPs, and PPC guys have to eventually run their ads. Once it's out in the open, it's fair game.

The real question is can you milk your method fast and hard enough to make it worth doing, and then come up with more methods once people copy yours.

EyesExist is right. 99% of people are too lazy to copy, and most of the 1% that do copy will fail with it. It's that final tiny percentage that can ruin a method, but at the same time if it's not a dirty method then there's enough verticals and platforms and money for everyone.