Yahoo! technology to guard users against ‘dangerous’ web sites

Yahoo! is about to introduce new technology to its search engine that will warn users if they are going to click on a website that hosts spyware, spam and viruses. SearchScan makes use of security firm McAfee’s SiteAdvisor technology for warning users about potentially risky sites.

The service that is switched on by default gives an on-screen alert. “Our goal is protect users by letting them to make a more informed decision about the websites they visit,” stated Yahoo!’s Priyank Garg. Rival firm Google had introduced similar technology a couple of years ago.

Yahoo!’s service will caution users about three different types of risk:

• Browser exploits: Websites, which can install malware just by visiting the website, and harm a user’s computer. Any such websites or pages included in McAfee’s data will get removed from search results by default.
• Dangerous downloads: SearchScan will display warnings just next to search results for websites that offer dangerous software, such as spyware, adware or viruses.
• Unsolicited e-mail: SearchScan will also alert users to scanned websites that send unsolicited mails or inappropriately share e-mail addresses with third parties.

Top search engines make plans to expand reach and popularity

As of today, there are five major search engines namely, Google, AOL, Yahoo!, Ask and Microsoft. Amongst them, AOL uses the same algorithm as Google, hence display almost identical results. This effectively gets the number down to four. However, all top and even some middle-rung players, as can be gauged from recent media reports, are striving to move up the ladder. This is likely to change the scenario a lot, and may well reshuffle the pack, with the only exception of course being Google!

For example, Ask had announced some time back it would be modifying itself to grab the niche market share that it already has control of. The biggest of them all Google, the diminishing giant Yahoo!, and the ambitious Microsoft, keen on taking over it, are also devising their own strategies. This is a situation worth following and analysing. If Microsoft is to take over Yahoo!, it would leave only two major players- Google and Microsoft (with Yahoo! acquired). Although it is largely believed that Microsoft will change to use the Yahoo! algorithm since it is considered, generally, to be better.

Although it will also mean that there is greater scope for a few other relatively smaller players who can sustain and survive the intense competition from online search giants with new technology/better algorithms.

Second largest shareholder Legg Mason opts to support Yahoo! in its tough times

“Telling the shareholders, you are going to take something away from them is not an (ideal) way to get their support,” quipped Legg Mason, Yahoo!’s second largest shareholder.

Very few shareholders have come out publicly in support of the online search and content firm in its recent tough times. But Legg Mason is an exception to this. He has indicated that he will support Yahoo!’s efforts to avoid a takeover and remain independent in case Microsoft tries to lower the value of its offer to take over Yahoo!

He stated, “If Microsoft lowers the price, I am not prepared to say that is better than Yahoo! remaining independent.” The owner of 7 per cent of Yahoo!’s shares, Mason has indicated that the current bid is not something too exciting for him.

Although he is not saying that they would refuse Microsoft’s money, it does sound like Legg Mason is standing up for Yahoo! in an effort to get Microsoft to revise their offer upward. It seems like this will bring some relief to Yahoo! There are chances that they might still accept what is coming their way, at some stage.

Internet’s biggest names take sides in the Microsoft-Yahoo! battle

Microsoft’s efforts to take over Yahoo! have already taken a series of twists. Now, it’s getting more complex with the possibility of the Internet’s biggest names joining either side. Microsoft is rumoured to be on the verge of striking a collaboration with News Corp. and Yahoo!, on other hand, is hoping for assistance from Google and AOL.

Yahoo! is rather struggling to strengthen itself in the face of sustained pressure from Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive, which started with a surprise unsolicited £22bn approach a couple of months ago.

The Silicon Valley firm is reported to be working out a deal with Time Warner that would result in the AOL brand getting combined with Yahoo!, giving it a vital cash injection and letting it to buy back its own stock for protecting it against a hostile takeover. Meanwhile, Yahoo! is also conducting an ‘experiment’ with Google that also has a stake in AOL. The experiment will involve testing of the search engine’s advertising systems on Yahoo!’s site. Although both firms played down the reported deal, many see it as an effort by Yahoo! to bring yet another influential Internet player into its camp.

Microsoft offer rejected by Yahoo!

Yahoo! again rejected Microsoft’s $44.6 billion offer to acquire the online media giant. The CEO of Yahoo! Inc. Jerry Yang sent the rejection letter on behalf of the board of director’s stating why the proposal is not in the best interests of Yahoo! and its stockholders. Furthermore, the letter clearly stated that their any transaction must be at a value that fully reflects the value of Yahoo!, including any strategic benefits to Microsoft and on terms that provide certainty to Yahoo’s stockholders.

Yahoo! laid out its three-year financial and strategic plan to its stockholders, since its initial rejection of Microsoft’s proposal. This plan clearly stated that the proposal substantially undervalues Yahoo’s face value. The company continues to launch new products and has leveraged its scale, technology, people and platforms, which have all boosted its present value. Additionally, the plan showed that the online company promised to foster the mobile ecosystem and extend its leadership in mobile, which in turn increases the company’s value all the more.

The analyst at Forrester Research, Charlene Li said in her blog that it is clear that Yahoo! is not ready to accept Microsoft’s offer and it would be more logical to sign a partnership agreement where the strengths of each company are shared.