If you’re also the type of person who is wary of clicking on questionable links in search results, here’s some good news: Google renewal your native search engine to provide us with more information about the results we see before making these risky clicks.
Almost all search results in English will get a new widget designed to divulge a bit about the site it actually leads to. Starting today, the update will be rolled out to computers, mobiles, and the Google Android app for search engines based in the United States.
When the update arrives, you may notice a small ellipse in the upper right corner of a given search result. If you tap this key, you’ll get a basic summary of where the actual result is derived from Wikipedia when it’s available. The new dashboard will also tell you if your connection to this site is “for sure“That is, it uses the HTTPS protocol. You can read everything that is and why it matters here.)
If the site doesn’t have its own Wikipedia page, Google says it will try to show an “additional context” about the site it has on hand, such as when the search giant first indexed the place. And if you’re one of the many people who hear the ads on Google search look a little too much Like actual search results, you’ll be happy to know that these new searches also tell you whether or not a particular link is an ad.
G / O Media may receive a commission
Whether you’re likely to get this update later today or if you’re outside the U.S. with an unknown date in the future, it’s a good reminder to always keep in mind where you click.