Google Adds Hacked Notification And Follow Option

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Google added two notifications Friday to its search results. One identifies sites that appear to have been compromised by third parties, helping to keep tabs on cyber threats and attacks. Sites affected by spam will include a blue link below the title that reads: "This site may be compromised."

The notification aims to identify when a site may have been hacked. Clicking on that link directs searchers to Google Help Center where an article explains more about the notice. For years, Google had a separate warning page describing threats against malware since 2007. Now Google will let searchers know when query results have been altered by a third party.

Google relies on a variety of tools to detect common signs of a hacked site as quickly as possible, according to Gideon Wald, associate product manager at Google. He explains in a blog post that aside from adding the notification, Google will try to contact the site's webmaster via their Webmaster Tools account and any contact email addresses they can find on the Web page.

The other notification added a "Follow" option for news articles at the top of the page that allows searchers to set alerts with one click. Clicking on the Follow News button creates a custom section. Another click on the "undo" button undoes the deed.

For Google, it's all about making it easier for users to search on keywords, and finding the content with one click.

 

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