Google implemented major changes on January 15th that blocked numerous SEO tools from accessing ranking and SERP data.
SimilarWeb, Rank Ranger, SE Ranking, and several other popular SEO tools reported significant data disruptions.
The update invalidated previously reliable methods, including ads_mode: ON configuration used for analyzing paid results.
ZipTie.dev reported a 2% decrease in AI Overview detection rates due to Google's smart blocking system.
Some major tools like Semrush, Sistrix, Monitorank, and Ahrefs remained unaffected by the changes.
SimilarWeb managed to restore functionality within 18 hours by identifying and addressing the root cause.
Google now requires JavaScript to be enabled for Search, affecting less than 0.1% of users who disable it.
The change aims to protect Google's services from bots, spam, and abuse while ensuring relevant information.
The scale of disruption was unprecedented, surpassing even major disruptions from 2018.
Eric Mercier was the first to spot and report the issue through his Spanish article about Google blocking SEO tools.