Some security experts have dismissed Website seals such as Hacker Safe and ControlScan as more marketing ploy than security, and hackers have fueled the debate by exposing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities on sites proudly emblazoned with seals from Hacker Safe and other security seal providers. (See Hackers Reveal Vulnerable Websites and Are ‘Sealed’ Websites Any Safer?.)
But ScanAlert’s Hacker Safe seal — and security Good Housekeeping seals overall — could gain more credibility now, with McAfee’s announcement today that it intends to buy ScanAlert for $51 million. Even with its critics, ScanAlert’s Hacker Safe seal has captured plenty of business — the seal is stamped on 75,000 Websites, and the company has 8,000 customers, including Petco, Toshiba, and Warner Brothers — with its security scanning service. (See McAfee to Acquire ScanAlert.) Website Security Seals Get a Boost - McAfee News Analysis - Dark Reading
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