The Best of Times for Quality Information

Abstract The Open Directory Project’s ( www.dmoz.org/computers ) 1 goal is to produce the most comprehensive directory of the Web, by relying on a vast army of volunteer editors. Its computer security section is testimony to the success of this approach. There is no doubting that as the Web continues to grow exponentially, automated search engines are increasingly failing to return useful results to search queries. Site editors are grappling with a slippery slope in their attempts to keep up with submissions, resulting in a marked deterioration in the quality and comprehensiveness of their directories, link rot in fact being one of the main bug bears for the casual surfer and more serious researcher alike.