![]() ![]() That makes it so that any providing click-tracking services, including URL shorteners and email marketing service providers, have to be extra cautious. Not only does Google list actual phishing sites, but any sites that re-direct to them as well. Ouch! Upon investigating, we found that the tracking domains they use in their email campaigns had ended up on the Google’s Safe Browsing blacklist, and when people clicked links in their campaigns, they ended up on this scary bright red Google warning page. Both APIs are directed at protecting users from malware and phishing, but the new Web Risk API is designed specifically for larger users.Īnd now, back to our story … What happened?Īt the beginning of last week, my team suddenly had a deluge of complaints from users reporting that their links had stopped working, their sending limits had been reduced, and they’d received phishing notifications from Google.Also, you’ll need to apply and be approved to use the API, so don’t wait. This version is a paid service, and if you’re a commercial user, as we are, then you’ll need to switch. Commercial users, like GMass, are required to switch to the Web Risk API by November 11, 2019.Also, a cademic researchers and NGOs will continue to be eligible to use the Safe Browsing API at no cost. If you’re a non-commercial user, you can continue to use the Safe Browsing API, and you don’t need to take any action.Effective September 11, 2019, the Safe Browsing API is limited to non-commercial use only.I’ll explain what happened during our harrowing week in a moment but first, let me share an update about Google’s Safe Browsing API: The list of websites blacklisted though is all maintained by Google, giving Google a disproportionate amount of power over what sites are seen versus blocked. Google has managed to get competing browsers, Safari and Firefox, to use it as well. In fact, it’s so pervasive that it’s not just used by Chrome. Google’s Safe Browsing program protects a lot of people from phishing, malware, and other harmful sites. ![]()
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