We’ve heard a ton of chatter lately about spammers and content farms using subversive techniques to exploit Google’s search function. In essence, someone is pointing out that Google’s vaunted system is flawed.

Three separate New York Times articles (here, here and here) have taken a critical look at Google’s search function, which has been manipulated in the past by the reputable—and not-so-reputable—to allow certain sites to appear higher in search results.

Somehow, the Times has gotten wind of these flaws, and no one seems to know the source. So, who’s behind this message—whose is the “Deep Throat” behind the story? That’s the question that Search Engine Watch is asking.

Writer Greg Jarobe has some interesting theories. Is it Microsoft’s Bing? Is it search startup Blekko, which was founded by former Google and Yahoo engineers?

Google hasn’t taken it all on the chin; the search giant is launching a PR counterattack of its own. The message: Spammers and content farms will be punished.

We saw what happened to JC Penney when it attempted to manipulate its search results. Now, Wired is reporting, along with several other news outlets, that Google is taking even more measures to bolster its efforts to silence content farms.

If it turns out that a competitor was behind Google’s negative press, it seems that their PR efforts could backfire. Google is playing this one right by saying, in effect, “We acknowledge the need for change and we’re taking the necessary steps.”

Maybe all the offending parties managed to do in the end was make Google a better product.