'Google Glitch' Makes Astroglide Customers' Info Public

VISTA, Calif. — The personal information of more than 250,000 Astroglide customers was made available online via Google searches, in what has been called a "Google glitch."

On April 12, a customer contacted Astroglide after searching her name using Google and finding information regarding her request to receive a free sample of personal lubricant.

Lynne Merrill, an Astroglide representative, told XBIZ the company discovered that the search engine giant had "aggressively indexed" — made note of and re-presented the information as a search result — a portion of Astroglide's sample requests made primarily between August 2003, and January 2004.

Information included customer names, email addresses and shipping information. No credit card or financial information was revealed.

Astroglide.com webmaster Matthew Eckmann told XBIZ that after adding new internal links to the company's archives, it is possible that Google's normal indexing procedure picked up on the site's new information. Eckmann said Astroglide.com's pages usually remain unchanged 85 percent of the time.

Eckmann said that Astroglide first changed the location of all files that could potentially be indexed and then changed the code in the site to prevent any future indexing. Merrill said that because there is no live Google support, Astroglide had to uncover and solve the problem itself, following Google protocol and a removal tool recently made available by the search engine.

As of today, Eckmann said the glitch has been fixed. All pages and caches of customer data have been removed and placed in a secure location on the Astroglide site. Measures have been taken to prevent further indexing of this information.

Astroglide.com's free-sample request has been temporarily deactivated.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult Industry, Override Possible

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Show More