Title: Yahoo! Offers New Desktop Search Tool

Author:

Section/SPIG: Health Administration

Issue Date:

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Yahoo!, one of the larger search engines, is offering free desktop search software that searches through more than 200 different file types on your computer. The application offers added privacy controls to prevent unauthorized access to your stored information. You can download a test version of the software from <http://desktop.yahoo.com>. The Yahoo search engine compares favorably with the Google search tool, although neither of them will index Netscape/Firefox e-mail, a serious oversight since Firefox's market share is increasing month by month. Outlook files are indexed by both the Yahoo! and Google search engines.

Yahoo! also offers access to millions of online groups that you can join for "a convenient way to connect with others who share the same interests and ideas." At the last count there were 1,166 online groups in public health ranging from Health_Justice_Network, to Coalition_for_Adolescent_Health, to Health_Promotion and many more besides.

Google also offers a desktop search engine, as does Microsoft. If you're interested in the Google or Microsoft search tools, check at:
<http://desktop.google.com/> or
<http://beta.toolbar.msn.com/>.