Malvertising has been a more popular tool employed by cybercriminals in recent years to exploit unsuspecting internet users. When people click on an infected ad, malware is transferred to their computers and mobile devices, which is known as malvertising. Sadly, some contend that Big Tech's corporate policies are facilitating hackers' use of malvertising as a means of infiltrating computer systems.
According to columnist Candice Rivera, "Big Tech's business model is dependent on targeted advertising, which means collecting data on users and their interests to serve them ads. However, this also means that ads can be targeted to specific users based on their vulnerabilities." Cybercriminals are taking advantage of this practice by purchasing ad space and using it to spread malware to specific groups of people.
In a recent article on Security Boulevard, the author suggests that one way to defeat malvertising-based phishing attacks is to 'use ad-blocking software, which can prevent ads from being displayed altogether.' While this may be an effective solution, it does not address the root cause of the problem, which is the business practices of Big Tech companies.
The use of malvertising has become so widespread that even popular search engines like Google have become vulnerable to attacks. As reported by Ars Technica, "Google recently warned users to be cautious when downloading software from its search engine, as some downloads may contain malware." This highlights the need for users to exercise caution when browsing the internet, even when using well-known and trusted search engines.
CSO Online provides recommendations to internet users to protect themselves from malvertising-based attacks. They suggest keeping the software and operating systems updated, using antivirus software, and installing ad-blocking software. Moreover, it is essential to exercise caution while clicking on links or downloading files from unknown websites.
While malvertising has become a serious threat to internet users, it is important to recognize the role that Big Tech's business practices play in enabling cyber criminals. As users, we must take responsibility for our own online security and take steps to protect ourselves from these types of attacks.
