GeoTrust, probably the second most popular online security brand on the net, launched a new search service today named TrustWatch. Ask Jeeves wrote a blog entry named “Trust, But Verify" to symbolize the message behind the new search service.
Powered by Ask Jeeves algorithmic search technology, the new service is designed to combat web-based fraud, identity theft and phishing scams. Users simply type queries into the search box at www.trustwatch.com and view easily understood green, yellow and red verification symbols beside each search result that represent the web site's trustworthiness rating.For example, users wanting to donate money for tsunami relief can type "Tsunami Relief Organizations" directly into the TrustWatch search box. The Ask Jeeves search engine will return relevant search results based on each site's authority on that specific topic, including redcross.org, usaid.gov, directrelief.org and americares.org. Each result will also appear with the TrustWatch rating prominently displayed, so users can quickly select trustworthy sites and donate with confidence.
So I decided to give it a spin, let me take you through it. Searched on web site design services and the first result was http://www.hwg.org/, which was not verified. So I clicked on the little yellow light with a question mark (verification icons explained here) and received this pop up window.
The next two top tabs look like, this and this respectively. To me, this seems pretty easy to spam.
Forum thread started at Search Engine Watch Forums.
