28 November 2008, 09:29

Microsoft adds malware detection to its Webmaster tools

Microsoft has added two tools to its Webmaster Center toolbox, which webmasters can use to monitor and analyse their own web sites. The malware-detection tool looks for malicious code in all retrievable web pages of a site and checks links to external pages for possible infection. This is to enable web site operators to protect their visitors from unpleasant surprises like exploits and other attacks. A reporting function is provided to help eliminate problems.

Microsoft has also simplified the authentication process for owners of two or more web sites: in future they can use a single XML authentication file for all their sites. Authentication is designed to ensure that a site registered for analysis is genuinely under the user's control. Google offers similar services with its Webmaster Tools, which provide information about a page's ranking and similarly can look for malicious code.

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