Is Black Hat SEO completely dead, or are people still quietly using it?

[breanneco]

Should we still rely on black hat SEO?

 

[wwsosop]

on this platform the blackhat is not quiet

 

[Starblazer]

As long as Google values authority based on backlinks, black hat SEO thrives. We can still see Google doing it, so black SEO is still working.

 

[gymnat1t1]

It's still useful for companies with big budget. LLMs choose sites where SEO is done well. But, for hobby bloggers or small emerging startups, they need to do a ton more to be seen, hence somewhat dead.

 

[savitaprasad]

Should we still rely on black hat SEO?

If someone had a working trick for blackhat SEO, I am sure they will not share it with anyone anymore. The value of such a trick is too much now.

 

[SEO JOKER]

Black Hat SEO is still around, but it is mostly used behind the scenes. It can bring quick results, but they rarely last, and many sites end up getting penalized or removed from search results.

 

[omi3oh1]

People still use black hat SEO quietly, but it can break your site anytime.

 

[She Hulk]

Black hat SEO isn’t dead it’s just underground.
People still use it for quick wins and throwaway sites, but relying on it is pure risk.
In 2025+, it’s a temporary tactic, not a long term strategy.

 

[flexpaydude]

Black hat SEO isn’t dead, but it’s short-term and high risk now.

People still use it quietly for churn-and-burn or testing, but anything meant to last is moving toward cleaner, hybrid approaches. Longevity today comes from minimizing footprints, not pure black hat tactics.

 

[moonshine7000]

Yes is dead,back to 9 to 5 you must

 

[Yoram]

No it's not! There's lots of users on BHW that still use blackhat SEO techniques

 

[Bamish]

Black hat SEO isn’t dead, it’s just quieter. People still use it, especially for churn-and-burn or high-budget projects where risk is acceptable. It works until it doesn’t, and most folks using it now are very selective, subtle, and ready to replace sites when things go wrong.

 

[kindarthur]

People are still using it, but the ones surviving in 2025 are those who mix it smartly with legit signals instead of going all-in reckless like before.

 

[arwengollum]

Blackhat SEO is not completely dead,it's still used quietly.

 

[seolab407]

not quiet...

 

[InfinityPeace]

Because black hat requires a lower profile, the use of the methods are either more secretive, or subject to greater customization as compared to white hat approaches, which are discussed in a more 'standard' or uniform way. There is no evergreen way to use parasites, for example, as different sites that best work for that purpose change over time. Same for churn and burn, PBNs, and the rest.

The best way to proceed with a black hat campaign is to study the published summaries of how to perform the techniques as already posted in past BHW threads, then get out a calendar and create a schedule for cycling the methods over weeks and months. Your plan, on this basis, will be different from somebody else's schedule, but that customized cycle will keep it effective.

 

[Play ON]

People still quietly use black hat SEO, but it’s a risky shortcut that usually ends in penalties. Stick with white hat SEO, it’s slower but safe, sustainable, and actually builds something real.

 

[1SEOWarrior]

The question is what kinds of SEO is considered blackhat in your context? Even buying any links is a blackhat method. Nobody will give you links without money nowadays. so...

 

[Furious Man]

Black hat SEO is not dead at all people still use it quietly and profitably, but only those who understand risk, churn sites, and don’t attach it to real brands anyone claiming it’s “dead” just doesn’t know how to use it without getting burned.

 

[Greywackle]

As long as Google values authority based on backlinks, black hat SEO thrives. We can still see Google doing it, so black SEO is still working.

Are backlinks still worth purchasing 2026? for local seo