Risky SEO for estate agents and other businesses

Search engine optimisation for estate agents, accountants, law firms, retailers and other commercial businesses is not without its potential risks, a new research study has revealed.

McAfee, an Internet security company, has pinpointed search terms that can lure web users on to advertising and malware sites used by cyber crooks and hackers.

With an innocent click of the mouse, unsuspecting Internet users can easily download malicious files that are designed to infect computers and steal personal and financial data. Spyware, spam, phishing, adware and viruses could all be uploaded to machines 'under attack' from criminals.

The riskiest search terms are associated with music downloads, song lyrics and screen savers, as well as search phrases containing the word 'free'.

Typing in phrases containing the word 'lyrics' was shown to have a 50:50 chance of clicking a malicious link. Using the word 'free' in search terms is likely to throw up a dodgy link one in five times.

Mark Chapman, Fuse's E Business Marketing Manager, said, "It is important for people and businesses to be aware that among all the legitimate and law-abiding activity carried out on the web, there are also some sharks swimming about looking for victims and a free feed.

"We recommend always choosing a reputable, professional search marketing firm that knows the lie of the land, or rather the Internet."

Whether the focus is search marketing for retailers or search engine optimisation for estate agents, the McAfee research can be studied by SEO firms to inform search strategies for clients.