Consumers can now take advantage of a free tool designed to warn them about website content, including hidden malware.

The Scandoo application from security company ScanSafe is a free online search service. Currently in initial beta testing, the aim is to provide an early warning system so users can know the risks of clicking on unknown web sites.

While it can help users avoid offensive or illegal content such as phishing sites or pornography, the service also detects malware. 

These mailicious programs, which include spyware, Trojan Horses and viruses, are often embedded into websites and surreptitiously download themselves onto unsuspecting users' PCs.

Websense's 2005 Semi-Annual Web Security Trends Report, issued in March this year, showed that spyware is a serious and growing threat. The report warned that it was equally dangerous to both companies and consumers.

With 30,000 new pornography web pages going online every day, it is not surprising that a recent Harris Interactive poll showed that 94 per cent of men and 95 per cent of women had visited a porn site by accident.

Scandoo doesn’t replace the user's existing search engine. Search terms are simply typed into the Scandoo toolbar in the search engine, and icons are then used to denote whether a site is safe or not.

A green tick indicates the site and its content has been verified, an amber question mark shows the site is unclassified as yet. An image of a creepy-crawly indicates that a website could be dangerous.

Users can also scroll over an icon that appears next to a search to see more detailed information about a site's content. Users are able to set their own personal security preferences, such as to block sites with sexual content.

ScanSafe also hopes users will provide comment and information on specific sites. Positive or negative feedback can be submitted, as well as whether users feel a site has been incorrectly ranked.

If a suggested change is accepted, the company’s scanners and ratings are updated accordingly.

According to ScanSafe founder Eldar Tuvey, the Scandoo.com principle is very simple: "It’s a bit like providing traffic lights to guide you safely through your search. For most of us, web searching is something we do every day as part of our home or work life.

"Most search results look benign, but the fact is you don’t know what you are going to get once you click onto a new or unknown site".

The Scandoo tool requires no downloads, software installation or updating. The trial version currently only provides search options for Google and MSN Search.

However the service is expected to be extended in the near future to include the other major search engines, Yahoo and Ask.