PDF files stored in the root of a site were displayed in Google search results

One of our clients mistakenly put a file in the root directory instead of the secured folder, and now it’s showing in Google search results.

It was only ever linked from a secure page, uploaded to a custom module, within a secure zone.

How is this happening?

@shannonlynd I have seen PDF files indexed that were not linked. Google treats PDF files like webpages, so they will find them unless told not to. I usually add the PDF folder to the robot.txt file like Disallow: /content/pdf. Of course, the folder isn’t needed if it is secure. For some sites were I know we don’t want any PDF files indexed I add, Disallow: /*.pdf$ to prevent any PDF file not put in the folder from being indexed.

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