Following the Microsoft debacle, Yahoo clearly needs some good news, and like any good politician caught preaching one thing and sleeping with another, you change the news cycle by getting the news reporters to look in another direction, and Yahoo partnering with McAfee over safe searching is a good start.
According to the announcement, which they're calling SearchScan, will start issuing warning on suspect sites. Launched in beta today, and the early reports from many analysts are that it's at least a move in the right direction. And the fact that most of our web interactions, good or bad, start at the search (the fact that it usually starts with a google search is another story altogether), I would have to agree.
The warning will appear as a bright red icon given the nature of the suspected threat, saying things like "Warning" Dangerous download" or "Unsolicited emails." Placing your cursor over the warning will provide even further details.
"Getting this launched is really crticial to keeping the Internet on its growth track," said Priyank Garg, director of product management for Yahoo Search. "This can help to go a long way to making consumers feel more trusted and feel safer when they're interacting with Web sites."
It is important to note that Searchscan, part of McAfee's SiteAdvisor, will not offer all of SiteAdvisor's features, but which can be bought in full from McAfee.
Now if they could only include some type of warning label when surfing certain woman on certain dating sites...that sure would have saved me some time and misery.
Leave a comment