HaoSouSpider

What is HaoSouSpider?

HaoSouSpider is a web crawler operated by Qihoo 360, one of China's largest internet security companies. It powers the indexing for Haosou (formerly 360 Search), a major Chinese search engine. This crawler systematically visits websites to discover, analyze, and index content for inclusion in Haosou's search results.

Qihoo 360 launched this crawler as part of their search ecosystem, which has established itself as one of China's significant search providers. As a traditional search engine crawler, HaoSouSpider identifies itself in server logs with user agent strings that typically follow this pattern: Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; MSIE 9.0; Windows NT 6.1; Trident/5.0); 360Spider(compatible; HaosouSpider; http://www.haosou.com/help/help_3_2.html). This dual-format user agent maintains compatibility with legacy web systems while clearly identifying itself as a crawler.

HaoSouSpider operates through a distributed network infrastructure primarily based in China, using multiple IP addresses to conduct its crawling operations. Unlike some newer AI-powered crawlers, HaoSouSpider focuses on traditional search indexing methodology, systematically visiting pages to build and maintain Haosou's search index.

Why is HaoSouSpider crawling my site?

HaoSouSpider visits websites to discover and index content that will appear in Haosou search results. If you're seeing this crawler in your logs, it means your site is being evaluated for inclusion in this Chinese search engine's database.

The crawler typically focuses on publicly accessible content including text, images, and metadata. Its visit frequency varies based on several factors: how often your content changes, your site's perceived authority within Qihoo 360's algorithms, and your server's response patterns. Sites with frequently updated content or higher authority scores often experience more regular visits.

HaoSouSpider's crawling is generally considered authorized as part of the standard web ecosystem where search engines index public content. However, the crawler's activity is concentrated on sites relevant to Chinese users, so websites with Chinese-language content or with audiences in China will likely see more activity.

What is the purpose of HaoSouSpider?

HaoSouSpider's primary purpose is to build and maintain the search index for Haosou, enabling Chinese internet users to find relevant content through Qihoo 360's search platform. The crawler collects information about web pages, analyzes their content, and adds this data to Haosou's search database.

For website owners, particularly those targeting Chinese audiences, HaoSouSpider provides the benefit of making your content discoverable to users of one of China's major search engines. This visibility can drive traffic from Chinese users who might otherwise not find your site.

The crawler supports Qihoo 360's position in China's competitive search market, where it competes with other major players like Baidu and Sogou. By maintaining an extensive and up-to-date index, HaoSouSpider helps Haosou deliver relevant search results to its users.

How do I block HaoSouSpider?

HaoSouSpider respects the standard robots.txt protocol, making it relatively straightforward to control its access to your site. If you wish to block this crawler from accessing specific sections of your website while allowing it to index others, you can add the following directives to your robots.txt file:

User-agent: HaoSouSpider
Disallow: /private-folder/

To block the crawler from your entire site, use:

User-agent: HaoSouSpider
Disallow: /

For more granular control at the web server level, particularly for sites requiring stricter access management, you can implement server-side blocking through .htaccess configurations on Apache servers. Blocking HaoSouSpider may reduce your visibility in Haosou search results, potentially decreasing traffic from Chinese users. However, if your target audience isn't in China or if the crawler is consuming excessive server resources, blocking might be beneficial. Consider your specific circumstances and target audience before deciding whether to restrict this crawler's access to your content.