New Tool To Scan Sites For Exploits

July 20, 2006
By Gregg Keizer, TechWeb Technology News

A security start-up on Thursday unveiled a free tool that scans Web sites for malicious code and other exploits, giving users a chance to steer clear of dangerous URLs before they click on links.

The tool, dubbed "LinkScanner" by Exploit Prevention Labs, is the fruit of an earlier effort -- the Atlanta-based company's SocketShield -- and in later versions, will compete with better-known site raters such as McAfee's SiteAdvisor, Exploit's chief operating officer said Thursday.

"At some point, you'll be able to enter a search here and point it to a specific [search] engine, and we'll return pages with scan results," said Chris Weltzien.

SiteAdvisor, technology that security giant McAfee acquired in April, rates sites in search results posted by Google, Yahoo, and MSN, but uses a completely different methodology.

Use LinkScanner to inspect:

• Links forwarded by friends
• Web sites displayed on search results
• Any link with suspicious characters or web site you have never visited

LinkScanner
TechWeb

Source: Digg

 

Nice. It's good seeing you around. It has been quite awhile since the old TTV days. (TT_75)

 

Huh?

 

Hi Tom
Can you tell me what this scanner is looking for?
I gave it a CWS site and it came back with this....

I tried a few others from CWS sites and it comes back with the same.
Geri

 

The site is looking for exploit code being pushed, something along the lines of the WMF exploit or IFrame type. I have run a bunch of sites as have others, and it's not impressing anyone yet.

I'd be sure and not be using this tool, if you're a n00b.

It still appears to have some more development to go AFAIC.

I posted because it sounded like a promising tool, especially when you see how nice SiteAdvisor is. Granted, it too has some bugs, but over all, does what it says.

 

SiteAdvisor

Hi Tom
Do you know of a way to get SiteAdvisor to work on my MSN Explorer browser?
I don't use IE very often.
Geri

Hi Tom
Just checked their web site. seems they don't have a plug in for MSN's Browser yet.
Thanks anyway
Geri

 

Geri

Do you really and truly want to use MSN Explorer when you could be using either Firefox or Opera? Both of these browsers are free, far more capable than MSN could ever hope to be and far more secure. Just a thought... no offense really. If it's what you want... well... more power to you. I know that having had MSN a few versions back and then stepping into the light with Firefox, it was like getting rid of a Fisher-Price/AOL-type app.. it actually felt so much more liberating.

 

Hi James
I have thought of downloading Firefox, But I have so much suff in favorites and links folders on my MSN exployer browser.
I "should" download it and switch things over, but uuuuggg so much work and I'm so lazy

I will do so one day.
Geri