Archive for January 2007
In May 2006 McAfee Siteadvisor released a search engine study comparing the safety of leading search engine results (SERPs). A new report just released on December 11, 2006, updates the May study with new data and deeper analysis of the specific types of threats posed by SERPs. The five search engines included in these findings were: Google, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL & Ask.com.
Search Results % of Red and Yellow Sites as reported by McAfee Siteadvisor
It’s very interesting to note that, on average, 4.4% of all search results from both paid and organic placements on these engines link to risky Web sites. These five search engines comprise of 91% of all search engine use in the United States, and 80% of site page visits originate from search engines!
That’s a pretty staggering statistic and one that would suggest that the major gateways to the web would take a stronger stance on serving up risky web pages. I guess the big question is are they or are they not doing all they can to protect users from spyware installs, sites that exhibit poor e-mail practices and scam sites? Here’s a quote from the study that may surprise you and make you wonder: “search engines earn approximately $1.28 billion annually from their U.S. operations by sending users to risky sites.” Yikes!
Take quick look below at the key findings from this study. If you’re interested in reading the whole report there is a link to it below:
- In the United States, the top five search engines all include some dangerous results.
- AOL returns the safest results with 3.6% of results rated red or yellow by McAfee SiteAdvisor. At 5.1%, Yahoo! returns the most results rated red or yellow. On average, 4.4% of search results link to risky Web sites.
- 8% of sponsored results are rated red or yellow - almost three times the percentage of red and yellow sites found in organic results. Scam sites are found at a much greater frequency in sponsored results.
Whoa 2007!! Wasn’t it the turn of the century just the other day? 
I just wanted to add an official Happy New Year post to our blog.
I hope everyone had a safe and happy new year holiday. Ours was pretty dang slow as she goes: We met up with some friends for a long snowshoe in the Uinta Mountains. We decided on a low trail head (Yellow Pine off of Mirror Lake Highway - I think it’s State Route 150 from Kamas, Ut to Wyoming via the national forest), because on this particular trail they don’t allow stinking, loud, and obnoxious snow machines (there is a difference between ’snow machines’ and recreational ’snow mobiles’ BTW). Well there were no snow shoes needed! The snow pack is taking its sweet time this year so we just walked in hiking boots about 4-5 miles in to a frozen lake and back on the packed down trail. Was beautiful in that winter wilderness and the dogs loved it!
After the day hike we went home and ate (grilled medium rare tri tip) and drank (I am a red wino) the night away. Well, we ate and drank until our 10pm bedtime, anyway 
At any rate, back to business. Here’s to a very profitable and exciting 2007. Can’t wait to get to work with all our network Affiliate and merchant partners. 2007 is going to be a good year for all of us!!
Gary M
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