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12 Feb 09:15

10 Most Popular Search Engines and directories in Australia’s [Updated 2020]

by Sarah Smith

Search engines are the most common means of finding information, and while Google dominates the market, there are other players in the field. Search engines classify websites by algorithms and have different features that distinguish them from each other. Thus they can be used in various ways to promote your business.

Directories, which categorize and connect to different types of websites, are also significant in helping to create an online footprint for a company.

Thus this article will explain the top search engines and directories in Australia.

Google:- As predicted, Google rates by a significant margin as the number one search engine and eventually controls the internet market. It currently holds a market share of over 94% in Australia. Unlike Twitter, the company began as a university project before becoming one of the most recognized global brand names (most popular dictionaries now even make Google a verb).

Before Google, ancient search engines such as AltaVista and others mostly rated pages based on the number of times each keyword appeared on a particular page. PhD students Larry Page and Stanford University’s Sergey Brin theorized that if sites were rated according to the website authority, it would be more convenient for consumers.

Early search engines might easily be duped into exceptionally rank sites using a keyword-filled content, and also not that beneficial to the consumer.

Google’s PageRank technology introduced the notion that a site’s quality or value could be set by the number of related pages and the significance of these pages. Backlinks still play a vital part in the Google search algorithm, which can be adjusted periodically to boost user experience.

Google has introduced a range of other items closely related to the quest since its creation in 1997. These include Google Ads, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, My Business Google, etc.

Bing:- Microsoft’s Bing search engine was formally established in 2009, although it existed under other titles such as MSN and Live search. The search engine has continued to see its market share growth since it was branding itself under the new name, but it’s still far behind Google. Bing has marginally more than 3.5% market share in Australia at the beginning of 2019, with an extra 0.72% search volume generated by MSN Australia.

Yahoo Search also is operated by Bing. While Yahoo is not very successful as a search engine in Australia (only 0.52 percent market share), this partnership has enabled Bing to grow significantly in other countries, notably in the US. On the other side, Google was replacing Bing as the default search engine for Apple, which is a big set back for them.

DuckDuckgo: Launched ten years ago, amongst top search engines, DuckDuckGo is relatively new. In Australia, it currently has a market share of 0.54%, placing it ahead of Yahoo (0.52%t) and Baidu (0.08%).

DuckDuckGo is popular with users concerned with privacy because it does not log user data or track user activity. It’s pretty good for regular searches but still lacks the challenge of Google or Bing’s popularity.

Yahoo: Founded in 1994, Yahoo has been viewed as a market leader in web search market share. While it is still Australia’s fourth-most-used search engine, its popularity has dwindled, and Google has lost much territory. Since 2009, Yahoo’s search was mostly powered by Bing. It currently has a market share of 0.52% in Australia.

Yahoo initially did not crawl or index webpages, but prefer to submit questions through Inktomi and Google. It supplied the outcomes of the pursuit with Yahoo branding; however, it didn’t concentrate on other suppliers. In 204, Yahoo established its very own initial web-crawler technologies, combining the capacities of numerous search engines previously obtained by them. Seven West Media also controlled 50 percent of Yahoo Australia (also known as Yahoo 7) through March 2018.

Top Australian directories

There’s some disagreement about the effectiveness of using directories as a means to enhance a site’s rankings, but there isn’t any doubt they are nevertheless a significant part of any internet advertising campaign.

Search engine algorithms are putting less emphasis on low carb backlinks through time, which may explain listings in several directories.

1. Yelp Australia:- With more than 1.5 million visitors per month, Yelp Australia is one of the largest directories in the world. Part of the popularity of Yelp is its review feature, which can be of great help to potential consumers. Together with the Australian version found in 2011, it may be utilized to hunt for everything from nightclubs and restaurants to physicians and data about it.

2. True local :- The TrueLocal has similar features to Yelp, and many Australians search every month for a total of 1.1 million. It makes it possible for users to search for companies in their area, and it is’ Australia’s most extensive confident collection of local companies.’ If Sensis is owned, companies can also advertise more information on the website.

3. Yellowpages:- Yellow Pages still receives more than 9 million searches per month, even though usage figures for both print and web media have dropped.

4. Whitepages:- White Pages is one of Australia’s most respected databases containing not only corporations but also individuals and governments.

5. Hotfrog:- Hot Frog works in 32 countries worldwide, with its headquarters in Sydney. It is one of Australia’s high-quality free sites. More than two million visits per month are made to Hotfrog Australia.

6. Aussieweb:- AussieWeb is a favorite local directory of Organizations It is easy to list the business here free of charge. Before adding, you check each listing application. Up to 9 images and videos can also be included.

7. Womo:- Womo or Word of Mouth claims the number one site of business review in Australia.

8. Searchfrog:- Search Frog is a quality corporate directory with several different features. First and foremost, they have a blog on-site that is not common to early customers for business listing sites. They provide the best user experience through call and report tracking, Google review integration, and the manual listing verification.

9. Local.com.au:- For about two decades, Local.com.au has been a successful commercial site. They are one of Australia’s first online corporate directories.

10. While global search engines drive the Australian site, local business databases are, as predicted, very populated. It is safer to get the support of an SEO department specialist if you are trying to market your business online

The post 10 Most Popular Search Engines and directories in Australia’s [Updated 2020] appeared first on Webdesigncity.

12 Feb 09:14

The CIA Secretly Bought a Company That Sold Encryption Devices Across the World. Then, Its Spies Read Everything.

by msmash
Greg Miller, reporting for Washington Post: For more than half a century, governments all over the world trusted a single company to keep the communications of their spies, soldiers and diplomats secret. The company, Crypto AG, got its first break with a contract to build code-making machines for U.S. troops during World War II. Flush with cash, it became a dominant maker of encryption devices for decades, navigating waves of technology from mechanical gears to electronic circuits and, finally, silicon chips and software. The Swiss firm made millions of dollars selling equipment to more than 120 countries well into the 21st century. Its clients included Iran, military juntas in Latin America, nuclear rivals India and Pakistan, and even the Vatican. But what none of its customers ever knew was that Crypto AG was secretly owned by the CIA in a highly classified partnership with West German intelligence. These spy agencies rigged the company's devices so they could easily break the codes that countries used to send encrypted messages. The decades-long arrangement, among the most closely guarded secrets of the Cold War, is laid bare in a classified, comprehensive CIA history of the operation obtained by The Washington Post and ZDF, a German public broadcaster, in a joint reporting project. The account identifies the CIA officers who ran the program and the company executives entrusted to execute it. It traces the origin of the venture as well as the internal conflicts that nearly derailed it. It describes how the United States and its allies exploited other nations' gullibility for years, taking their money and stealing their secrets. The operation, known first by the code name "Thesaurus" and later "Rubicon," ranks among the most audacious in CIA history.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.