Yahoo! in partnership with McAfee has announced the release of SearchScan. It will show those URLs in the Yahoo! SERPs (search engine result pages) that are deemed 'risky'. This feature will incorporate McAfee's SiteAdvisor technology. The goal of this feature is to safeguard the user against spyware and other malicious software from being downloaded on his computers. It would also assist users to prevent themselves from spammy email practices. The SearchScan feature has been implemented in the BETA phase in the U.S., Canada, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and Spain.
The factors that would make the SearchScan deem a page as risky, are:
- Harmful Downloads: Websites that provide users with harmful downloads. These downloads might carry viruses and spyware or adware. They can also be disguised as screensavers, games and in other forms too.
- Unsolicited E-mails: SearchScan will notify the users and warn them against such websites that send unsolicited emails or share email addresses with third parties, without prior approval of the users/
- Stealth Websites: Those websites that are capable of stealthily installing malware or can intentionally harm a user's computer would not be included in Yahoo's SERPs.
The option of SearchScan will be 'On' by default. However, it can be turned 'Off' by visiting Yahoo! Preferences.
The Internet is a great place to spend your time, learn in the process, connect and communicate. But, still there are individuals who are keen on pursuing malicious activities against the users who consider the Internet as safe. With this feature incorporated in the Yahoo! Search, Yahoo! Hopes to provide a cleaner and a better online experience to users worldwide.
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Navneet Kaushal, CEO PageTraffic is a trusted authority in the search engine marketing industry. He is a featured author at Web Pro News, Search Newz, Website Notes, DevWebPro, SEO Article and Web Help Now among many others.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
When Yahoo’s SearchScan first when live I welcomed it. That was UNTIL my own site was flagged. “What the Hell is going on!,” was my first throught. As I explored deeper I discovered that we were flagged on the basis on one single email sent in by someone in Canada. Hell we don’t even sell or ship to Canada. We have never spammed, or used spyware or any of the things that anyone should be flagged for. I’ve been unable to get anyone to respone to emails to remove the flagging. I know it is costing us money. Our sells are down and it seems the only way to get their attention would be with a class action lawsuit. – Has this happened to anyone else?
Ken
Yahoo SearchScan very faulty.
First I noticed that sites are showing up that I know are OK. And now I know of two people that got virus from sites that it had not flagged.
SearchScan just seems to make the people at Yahoo feel good, but nobody seems to really check the sites to see if the warnings are valid or it sites should be tagged.
Also – people at some companies are reporting their competition’s sites as sending unsolicited emails or containing virus.
Basically – the systems can’t be trusted.
YAHOO needs to slow down and STOP trying to HELP me without my permission.
YAHOO IS BECOMING VERY ANNOYING TO USE ANYMORE.
WEALTH AND SHAME SURE DID CHANGE A GREAT SITE.
I NOW MUST RETHINK MY ONLINE ACCOUNTS.