Microsoft rigs Live Search traffic

Remember those stories about Microsoft gaining on Google in the search business?

Turns out it was all a scam.

Microsoft has successfully rigged its search traffic. The company recently introduced several online games than shamelessly bribe people to query its moribund Live Search Engine, and according to web research firm comScore, these games gave the engine a significant traffic boost last month.

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When users play games like Chicktionary, Dingbats, and Seekadoo, they automatically generate Live Search results. The more results they generate, the more points they win. And if they win enough points, they win prizes. Like a Microsoft Zune player. OK, it's not much of a bribe. But it's still a bribe.

Love that bit of snark at the end.