scottcwilson
commented
2 months ago The most effective if the user has the option is to place the test folder "above the root."
SEs will follow the path of least resistance, and they don't like underscores.
Yeah, this stuff doesn't work at all. The site (where ever it is physically placed and however it is named) has a URL, and Google follows that URL when it sees it. I suspect it saw it in GMail (Google mentions this as a starting point) and went from there.
Google's advice in the linked article is "password protect the site." Believe them.
The most effective if the user has the option is to place the test folder "above the root." Some hosts will not allow it, but if the user can get from home/username/public_html to home/username/, the test folder can be placed there. Unchecking Share Document Root when creating a domain will let you know immediately if you can create above the root. If public_html remains with the Home icon, the user does not have permission to work "above the root."
Unless you use an alias directive, no one will find it.
I recommend that the user name the folder to begin with an underscore (_test), regardless of where the folder is placed. Like electricity, SEs will follow the path of least resistance, and they don't like underscores. It's not foolproof above the root but is not as restrictive as passwords if you are working with a team. A short term solution at best. https://myzencarthost.com/index.php?rp=/knowledgebase/1/Creating-a-Test-Site-with-cPanel.html is where we steer our customers.