Two new add-ins for the MSN Search Toolbar provide phishing protection and one-click access to online MSN games.
Microsoft has updated the MSN Search Toolbar by providing a pair of new add-ins for its users.
The Phishing Filter Add-in provides what Microsoft calls in a press release “powerful dynamic protection against “phishing” Web sites, a fast-growing class of online identity theft.” A phishing scam directs users, usually via an email message, to visit a site that looks like a legitimate one, but is actually a fake created to capture login information.
Once criminals have login data, they can access an account and all the personal information available there. Microsoft cites how the phishing filter will help combat this problem. It checks the visited page with an up to the hour list of reported phishing sites. If there is a match, the filter will not allow users to enter personal data.
If the site appears to be a phishing attempt, the filter will display a warning message and the option to exit the site or continue. Users can enable an option that sends Web site addresses they visit to Microsoft, to be automatically checked against a list of known phishing sites.
On the lighter side, the Games add-in will display a daily trivia question in the toolbar, and will provide a drop-down list of popular games. Users can customize the list with their favorites, too. Microsoft said in the release that Games is its top clicked-on channel from the MSN homepage.
David Utter is a staff writer for murdok covering technology and business. Email him here.
