Safe surfing: Taking care when using search engines22 May 2006
Search engines are for many people as much a part of daily life as the Yellow Pages used to be, or the television guide. A one-stop shop to locate almost any information or service available through the world wide web, search engines are a quick and accessible way to find the answers to day-to-day questions.
And search engine usage seems set to continue to grow. A recent survey from Nielsen and Net Ratings estimated found that the number of surfers utilising a search engine was increasing at a faster rate than the amount of individuals getting online. During 2005, the number of search engine users in Europe grew by 11 per cent to 88 million.
The main search engine sites are globally recognised brand names, Google, Ask, Yahoo! and so on. But a new report is urging search engine users not to be complacent about security even when using a familiar and trusted search engine.
Research conducted by McAfee found that some websites called up by search engines targeted users who clicked through to the site with spam, spyware and malicious downloads.
In particular, the authors noted that some search terms returned a greater number of risky sites than others, but that an average of between four to six per cent of all searches flagged up malicious sites.
The report called for more action on the part of search engine operators to clamp down on untrustworthy sites and advertisers and help draw users' attention to problem pages. However, it is essential that search engine users take some simple measures to avoid ending up visiting dangerous site.
Stay safe
The report did identify the keywords that returned the most risky sites, which were mainly download-related, including 'screensavers' and 'free ringtones'. While some of us may never need to search for such products, if it cannot be avoided, follow these tips:
- Never click through on pop-ups. Even if they have a cancel button, it is safest to close the window using the cross in the corner.
- Avoid downloading material from unfamiliar sites.
- Remember that search engine rankings do not work on quality or safety of sites. Just because a site is listed at the top of the search results, it cannot be guaranteed to be safe.
- If children are using the internet, ensure that safety filters are installed to prevent them accessing unsuitable content.
- Ensure that PCs and laptops are protected with a suitable security package. BT's Internet Security Pack, which provides daily updated virus-scan and firewall protection as well as offering helpdesk support should you be affected by a security problem.
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