Announcing the Launch of SiteAdvisor's Public Trial Version
Posted by Chris Dixon on March 1, 2006 12:45 PM
Today SiteAdvisor officially launched a Trial Version of our software, and we'd like to thank all our Preview Version testers who helped us reach this important phase.
We’ve come a long way since SiteAdvisor was established nearly one year ago. Our bots have analyzed Web sites representing 95% of Web traffic, downloaded and tested more than 475,000 pieces of software, and provided unique e-mail addresses on more than 1,300,000 registration forms. Our new Web site, which also launched today, adds a new look and many new features, including a robust user review system and a new support section.
The crucial work carried out by our dedicated 7,000 Preview Version testers over the last 3 months was instrumental in helping us improve our software and our Web site. Their feedback, suggestions, and constant input helped us tweak features, clarify messages, and put a lot of new ideas in the development pipeline. Thanks to the enthusiasm of our early users, SiteAdvisor's software was downloaded more than 150,000 times while in its preview phase.
Many Preview Version testers opted-in to be publicly recognized, so we created a section of our new site to say "thanks."
SiteAdvisor’s improved reviewer system offers new features and recognition for the volunteer reviewers who help enrich the human element of our testing data. If you haven't already, we hope you'll sign up to be a SiteAdvisor Reviewer. The new feedback system allows reviewers to leave both quantitative and qualitative feedback about sites, create a reviewer profile, vote on other reviews, and earn a reputation score which will determine how significantly a given reviewer's feedback will affect a site's overall safety rating.
We hope our superb group of Preview Version testers and new SiteAdvisor users alike will continue to enrich our data, alert us to Web safety threats we may not be aware of, and engage us with questions, comments, and suggestions.
Though this is a milestone for us at SiteAdvisor, we’re not resting on our laurels. Look for continued improvements to our system and feature additions to our software in the next few months, including:
* The option to turn on "Protected Search" or "Protected Browse" mode to block access to "red" sites
* Safety checking of links in e-mails and instant messages
* "Disposable e-mail addresses" which you can use to track the source of the e-mail you receive, and have a guaranteed unsubscribe mechanism from a given source at any time
Thanks again for your interest and enthusiasm about SiteAdvisor, and keep your feedback coming.
Comments
Congradulations! I like the ideas for the new features! Keep up the good work!
BMR777
Posted by: Brandon Rusnak | March 1, 2006 05:31 PM
This is great stuff, I've already spread the word.
Keep up the good work guys, and thanks for making a good little tool to help the everyday user
Posted by: TeMerc | March 1, 2006 07:25 PM
I'm getting the message---can't update registry----probably spyware problem---I'm using Zonealarm, spybot, adaware, AVG,and the MS.
Advise pls.
Posted by: Charles Adams | March 6, 2006 11:02 PM
1USA.Com protects its customers better than any other ISP out there... and we have been doing
- Safety checking of links in e-mails via SORBS and
- Disposable e-mail addresses on our mail servers for 2 years already.
It would be more prodent of your business model to concentrate on Web Surfing, as most of the professional ISPs have the spams under control... unless it's your intent to eventually put us honorable "Independent" ISPs (not affiliated with an ILEC Phone Company) out of business.
Similarly, Anti-Virus software vendors have mixed results when trying to incorporate SORBS data or even a Firewall into their product. Consequently, innocent end-users get the short end of the stick when they purchase an inadequate anti-virus product because "it was cheaper".
It would be more in your best interest to *partner with us providers* who are already doing an excellent job in protecting our customers, rather than becoming a Google -- who eventually wants to own the internet via World Domination by the way. They have already agreed to provide China "only what the government wants their people to see". I don't think Google would have any problem placing your URL (or ours, if we were to compete against Google) on page 1,354,692 of Search Results, for that matter. You know what that would mean to our ability to Serve & Protect, huh.
BarryZ
www.1usa.com
Posted by: BarryZ | March 7, 2006 09:01 PM
To my knowledge, Google would not deliberately modify search results in such a way. If they did, other companies could bribe them into getting higher placement on the search results. But no, Google explicitely states that no one can buy a higher Pagerank.
Google's basic policy is "Don't be evil." Read their side of the story sometime. They wrote in their blog that the China thing was a difficult decision, and it wasn't taken lightly.
But, back on topic... I'm using the Firefox extension, and even though I never find myself on a "red" site (which has more to do with my surfing habits than the marking of search results), I find this SiteAdvisor stuff to be fascinating. Keep up the good work.
I agree with Barry that this should be more widely publicized. Ask Google if they could add it to the Google Pack. :)
Posted by: Pikadude No. 1 | March 8, 2006 08:54 PM