Computer Bytes - No. 48 Internet searching just got a little safer thanks to Yahoo's new SearchScan program. This new program, that is free by the way, implements an antivirus/antispyware feature created by the company McAfee and is designed to help protect you from spyware, spam and viruses you might encounter on pages/sites listed in the search index on Yahoo. No downloading or installation is necessary. All scanning is done server side by Yahoo. SearchScan is turned on by default in Yahoo since the search spiders are not able to detect harmful sites. Yahoo's SearchScan will scan your search results and if a malicious or harmful page is found a notice will appear at the top of your search results and then again beneath the actual search result explaining precisely what the problem is. There are three basic threats SearchScan will be looking for. Browser exploits - sites that have some form of software or a virus that can harm your computer. Also helps protect you from sites that are a potential hacking threat. Yahoo will automatically remove these listings from their Index immediately on detection thereby preventing you from accidentally accessing the malicious website. Dangerous downloads - these are websites that entice you by offering virus-infected games, screensavers or downloads. Unsolicited email - SearchScan will alert you to those sites that harvest email addresses and then sell or give these harvested emails to other sites thus helping to minimize your junk email. If for some reason you don't want Yahoo to analyze your search results and clean them up, you can turn SearchScan off by going to your Yahoo preferences page. For site owners that feel their page may have been tagged as spam in an unfair manner, you can go through the Yahoo dispute process. To do this, place your cursor over the warning in the search results and a box will appear providing a site-owner help link. SearchScan can be an invaluable tool when searching for good, clean results. To take full advantage of this free program, always wait until your search results have completely loaded to see if any are marked malicious before clicking on their links. Moncrief Web2 Home Page Moncrief Web Design Computer Bytes Index Web Design | Search Engine Optimization | Site Maintenance & Management | Request Information | About Us ~ Sample Sites Send Us an Email | Home Page Copyright 2007-2008. All rights reserved. Computer Bytes articles may not be reprinted, published, quoted, copied, or used in any manner whatsoever without the expressed written permission of David Moncrief.