Criteria to consider when determining the reliability or credibility of any source:
[Borrowed from the Evaluate Sources guide from the University of Texas Libraries.]
Look also at the Choosing Quality Resources guide from the American University Library that explains how to apply criteria of Authority, Accuracy, Currency, Objectivity, and Relevance when evaluating research sources.
The criteria for evaluating websites very similar to the criteria for evaluating sources. Here are some questions to ask yourself when evaluating a website's reputation and credibility. You'll see that some are very similar to the currency, relevance, and other criteria in the box above:
Some websites may not meet all these criteria. When in doubt check the information with other sources that you know are reliable. Think critically,
[Adapted from How Can I tell if a Website is Credible? from the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay.]
Fake News, Misinformation, Alternative Facts, Post-Truth...
Whatever you call it, believing false information and then citing from inaccurate sources is a problem. For more tips and suggestions, check out SU library's guide about Fake News & Critical Thinking.
[Retrieved from Pace University Library Research Guide.]
Search engine creators, like Google, are businesses whose purpose is to turn a profit, not help you find information. Using several different search engines when seeking information is good practice, don't become loyal to just one. In addition, consider using search engines that are uncensored and anonymous, such as, DuckDuckGo or GIBIRU.