Google is testing a new feature in its search engine, which one day might revolutionize how users identify sites they can rely on.
The tech giant is launching the Google verified checkmarks next to some sites in Google’s targeted search results, aimed at helping to distinguish between trustworthy sources and possible threats to users.
It is not the same case with the other digital trust signals such as Gmail’s BIMI system that assists the user in determining if the email senders are genuine.
But how precisely does this new feature work, and what does it portend for online safety in the future?
Digging a little deeper into this newly emerged development.
Google public affairs spokesperson Molly Shaheen told The Verge:
We regularly experiment with features that help shoppers identify trustworthy businesses online, and we are currently running a small experiment showing checkmarks next to certain businesses on Google.
Google’s New Verified Checkmarks: A Step Towards Safer Browsing?
Reports tell that Google will help to make the online experience safer for users in browsing through sites by providing a simple visual cue: blue checkmarks beside verified sites within the search results.
An online trust signal since its users could be sure that Google verified the authenticity of a given website.
This would be very helpful if a user does not know whether the site offering services, products, or downloads is authentic or not.
Although it may look like a small update, it could make big waves because there are so many phishing sites, malware sites, and scam pages trying to steal your information or download hostile files, and is designed to cut through that noise quickly so the users more clearly understand the safe websites.
So, whenever you see those teeny little verified checkmarks next to a website on the Google Search results page, it means that its algorithms have scanned the site and determined that it’s safe; that is, it’s sending some kind of message back to the user saying that probably that’s what the website is, not liable to clicking on some misleading phishing site or scam.
This check is important also because it cannot be foolproof at all.
Google has ensured that even though they are sure of their verification process, the presence of a checkmark does not guarantee anything in itself.
So, users still have to be careful with what is there on the Web, particularly where sensitive details are concerned or downloading is involved.
Suppose you are downloading an application free of cost, or for that matter, making an online purchase.
You would be relying on the checkmarks in a greater way to make a better decision.
For example, if you are browsing for a website that has a free download offer, then the checkmarks will indicate whether or not the website is legitimate and thus save you from phishing.
One may reduce the instances of getting people scammed.
It then proposes that phishing attempts and malware infections are reduced because it enables users to identify trusted websites, which, in turn, reduces fraud.
Currently, the checkmarks are tested only on a small scale, so you might not see it yet.
But if the experiment is successful, then perhaps it could become an ordinary feature of Google’s search results, which would bring an added layer of security to internet users around the globe.
It is but one more step in making a better, safer online experience for all of us on the part of Google.
Of course, like with any new tool, it is time to come that will test its effectiveness.
The Google verified checkmarks aren’t going to be the end-all solution to online threats, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
Conclusion
Testing blue checkmarks on search results marks another significant step for Google regarding how online safety might be shaped.
Not a perfect system, but it is still an added lever in helping people cut through the dense and misleading spaces of cyberspace.
As this feature evolves, it may play a very important role in the way we identify and trust the websites we regularly access.
Only time will tell how this pans out, but this is a promising leap forward into safer browsing for now.
