Published on 2025-08-07T06:18:08Z

rogerbot

rogerbot is a primary web crawler for Moz, a leading SEO software company. Its purpose is to scan the web to collect data for Moz's suite of SEO tools, particularly for backlink analysis. The information it gathers powers key Moz metrics like Domain Authority and Page Authority, which are widely used in the SEO industry to evaluate website quality and ranking potential.

What is rogerbot?

rogerbot is a web crawler operated by the SEO software company Moz. It is a key part of Moz's infrastructure, designed to collect and analyze website data for its suite of SEO tools. The bot systematically visits websites to gather information about their structure, content, and link profiles. It identifies itself in server logs with a user-agent string like rogerbot/1.2 (...). The crawler's focus is on collecting data relevant to SEO metrics, such as backlinks and technical on-page factors.

Why is rogerbot crawling my site?

rogerbot is visiting your website to collect data for Moz's SEO analytics platform. It is likely crawling your site to discover and analyze backlinks, gather information on your site's content and structure, and monitor for changes that could affect SEO performance. The frequency of its visits depends on factors like your site's authority and update schedule. This crawling is generally considered authorized as it follows standard web protocols and is part of a legitimate SEO service.

What is the purpose of rogerbot?

The purpose of rogerbot is to power Moz's suite of SEO tools, including its Link Explorer and Site Crawl features. The data it collects helps Moz customers analyze their SEO performance, discover backlink opportunities, and identify technical issues. For website owners, even those who do not use Moz's services, the bot's activity can be indirectly valuable as the data contributes to the broader SEO ecosystem. The information is used to calculate widely-used metrics like Domain Authority, which can help your site become more visible to SEO professionals.

How do I block rogerbot?

To prevent rogerbot from analyzing your website, you can add a disallow rule to your robots.txt file. This is the standard method for managing access for legitimate SEO crawlers.

To block this bot, add the following lines to your robots.txt file:

User-agent: rogerbot
Disallow: /

How to verify the authenticity of the user-agent operated by Moz?

Reverse IP lookup technique

To verify user-agent authenticity, you can use host linux command two times with the IP address of the requester.

```
> host IPAddressOfRequest
```
This command returns the reverse lookup hostname (e.g., 4.4.8.8.in-addr.arpa.).

> host ReverseDNSFromTheOutputOfFirstRequest

If the output matches the original IP address and the domain is associated with a trusted operator (e.g., Moz), the user-agent can be considered legitimate.

IP list lookup technique

Some operators provide a public list of IP addresses used by their crawlers. This list can be cross-referenced to verify a user-agent's authenticity. However, both operators and website owners may find it challenging to maintain an up-to-date list, so use this method with caution and in conjunction with other verification techniques.