Earlier today, if you used Google to search for anything, you will have noticed that Google malware detector was reporting that every site on the web was potentially hosting MALWARE!
Google malware broke
The problem lasted for around 20 minutes and seems to have hit everything; other than YouTube, which of course is owned by Google! Users who were brave enough to click one of the search results, were warned that visiting that site might harm their computer.
With the vast majority of all searches carried out using Google, it makes you wonder would have happened if the google malware detector problem had kicked in on a week day and lasted a little longer.
All due to a human coding error we are told!
But did you see the resulting level of panic in the blogo/twittersphere?
It seemed to me to be a little OTT, but was clearly not orchestrated, and it also shows people weren’t checking their Tweetdeck, or equivalent, first to see that others had been saying exactly the same thing!
It did serve to illustrate the level of impact Google now has in the lives of us “Onliners”, but has it begged the question from anyone yet: What DO we actually do if we have to survive without Google for an extended period?
It pays to be prepared for a power-cut (where did I put those candles?), so why not a Google-cut?
There are other search engines out there (so I’m told!) but I have obviously got the Google bug as bad as everyone else, because I never use them either!
What else can no-one survive without for 20 minutes, let alone 20 hours?
Caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco simply do NOT figure!
Is there anything else that does?
Thanks for the post Jim! Keep em coming!
Hi Howard,
You make a good point. I think this is where services like Twitter, FriendFeed etc would come into their own – so long as you have a big enough network to get the answers you needed.
I think it also shows the need for some more effective competition for Google.
Fingers crossed Howard!