Yahoo Plans to Filter Malicious Web sites using SearchScan Powered By McAfee SiteAdvisor

Yahoo plans to start filtering out malicious Web sites using McAfee’s SiteAdvisor software, which warns Web surfers if they are about to visit a Web site that has been linked to spam, phishing or malicious software. This service is known as ‘SearchScan’.

SearchScan will drop websites associated with malware from search results and Yahoo searchers will now see red warning labels, warning them of sites that SiteAdvisor has linked with things like dangerous downloads or unsolicited e-mail.

SiteAdvisor can be downloaded as a plug-in to Firefox or Internet explorer, but Yahoo has been working since late last year to integrate McAfee’s Web site rating technology into their search engine servers, according to Priyank Garg, a director of product management with Yahoo.

SiteAdvisor was founded in April 2005 by a group of MIT engineers who wanted to make the Web safer for their family and friends.

SiteAdvisor software for Internet Explorer and Firefox summarizes the safety results into intuitive red, yellow and green ratings to help Web users stay safe as they search, browse and transact online, with an intention to make the Internet safer for everyone.

On April 5, 2006 McAfee, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California, which is the world’s largest dedicated security technology company planned to acquire SiteAdvisor.

McAfee currently delivers proactive and proven solutions and services that secure systems and networks around the world, allowing users to browse and shop the Web securely. With its unmatched security expertise and commitment to innovation, McAfee empowers home users, businesses, the public sector and service providers by enabling them to comply with regulations, protect data, prevent disruptions, identify vulnerabilities and continuously monitor and improve their security.

SearchScan is just the first of several new security features that McAfee and Yahoo have planned, said Tim Dowling, McAfee’s vice president of McAfee’s Web security group. “This is the beginning of a partnership,” he said. “We see multiple opportunities to partner to work together to make the internet more secure.”