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Phishing scam
Cyber Fraud Google Ads Malicious Campaign PayPal Scam Phishing scam

Scammers Exploit Google and PayPal’s Infrastructure to Steal Users Private Data

 

Cybersecurity experts discovered a sophisticated phishing campaign that used Google Ads and PayPal's infrastructure to defraud users and obtain sensitive personal information. 

The attackers abused vulnerabilities in Google's ad standards and PayPal's "no-code checkout" feature to create fake payment links that appeared authentic, duping victims into communicating with fake customer care agents. 

Malicious actors created fraudulent adverts imitating PayPal. These adverts shown in the top search results on Google, displaying the official PayPal domain to boost user trust. A flaw in Google's landing page regulations allowed these advertisements to send consumers to fraudulent sites hosted on PayPal's legitimate domain.

The URLs used the format paypal.com/ncp/payment/[unique ID], which was designed to allow merchants to securely accept payments without requiring technical knowledge. 

Scammers took advantage of this functionality by customising payment pages with misleading information, such as fake customer service phone numbers labelled as "PayPal Assistance." Victims, particularly those using mobile devices with limited screen area, were more likely to fall for the scam due to the challenges in spotting the fake nature of the links. 

Mobile devices: A key target 

Due to the inherent limitations of smaller screens, mobile users were the campaign's main target. Users of smartphones frequently rely on the top search results without scrolling further, which increases their vulnerability to clicking on malicious ads. Additionally, once they were directed to the phoney payment pages, users would see PayPal's official domain in their browser address bar, which further confirmed the scam's legitimacy. 

Victims who called the fake help numbers were most likely tricked into disclosing sensitive information or making unauthorised payments. According to MalwareBytes Report, this attack highlights how cybercriminals may use trusted platforms such as Google and PayPal to conduct sophisticated scams. Scammers successfully bypassed typical security measures by combining technical flaws with social engineering techniques, preying on people' trust in well-known brands.

The campaign has been reported to Google and PayPal, yet new malicious adverts utilising similar techniques continue to appear. Experts advise people to use caution when interacting with online adverts and to prioritise organic search results above sponsored links when looking for legitimate customer service information. Security technologies such as ad blockers and anti-phishing software can also help to reduce risks by blocking malicious links.
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Malware Attack
Cyber Attacks fake ads fake websites Google Google Ads Infostealer Malware Mallicious URLs Malware Attack

Cybercriminals Use Google Ads and URL Cloaking to Spread Malware

 

Cybercriminals are increasingly using Google ads and sophisticated cloaking techniques to push malware onto unsuspecting users. The latest example involves a fake Homebrew website that tricked users into downloading an infostealer designed to steal sensitive data, including login credentials and banking details. Security researcher Ryan Chenkie first noticed the malicious Google ad, which displayed the correct Homebrew URL, “brew.sh,” making it appear legitimate. 

However, once users clicked on the ad, they were redirected to a fraudulent clone hosted at “brewe.sh.” The deception was so convincing that even experienced users might not have spotted the trick before engaging with the site. The technique used in this campaign, known as URL cloaking, allows cybercriminals to manipulate how links appear in ads. According to Google, these attackers create thousands of accounts and use advanced text manipulation to bypass detection by both automated systems and human reviewers. This makes it difficult to catch fraudulent ads before they reach users. 

While Google has since removed the ad and is ramping up its security efforts, the issue highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in online advertising. The malware behind this attack, identified by security researcher JAMESWT as AmosStealer (also known as Atomic), is specifically designed for macOS systems. Developed in Swift, it is capable of running on both Intel and Apple Silicon devices. AmosStealer is a subscription-based malware service, sold to cybercriminals for $1,000 per month. 

Once installed, it can extract browser history, login credentials, bank account details, cryptocurrency wallet information, and other sensitive data. What makes this attack particularly alarming is its target audience. Homebrew is a package manager used primarily by macOS and Linux users, who are generally more tech-savvy than the average internet user. This suggests that cybercriminals are refining their tactics to deceive even experienced users. By leveraging Google’s ad platform to lend credibility to their fake sites, these attackers can reach a broader audience and increase their success rate.  

To protect against such malware campaigns, users should take extra precautions. Checking an ad’s displayed URL is no longer sufficient — verifying the website address after the page loads is crucial. Even a minor change in spelling, such as replacing a single letter, can indicate a fraudulent site. Another effective defense is avoiding Google ads altogether. Legitimate websites always appear in organic search results below the ads, so skipping the top links can help users avoid potential scams. 

Instead of clicking on ads, users should manually search for the company or product name to locate the official website. For those looking to minimize risks from malicious ads, alternative search engines like DuckDuckGo or Qwant offer more privacy-focused browsing experiences with stricter ad filtering. As cybercriminals continue to evolve their tactics, adopting safer browsing habits and remaining vigilant online is essential to avoiding security threats.
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malware
fake ads Google Ads Infostealer Malicious Campaign malware

Hackers Employ Fake Mac Homebrew Google Ads in Novel Malicious Campaign

 

Hackers are once more exploiting Google advertisements to disseminate malware, using a fake Homebrew website to compromise Macs and Linux systems with an infostealer that harvests credentials, browsing data, and cryptocurrency wallets. 

Ryan Chenkie discovered the fraudulent Google ad campaign and warned on X regarding the potential of malware infection. The malware employed in this operation is AmosStealer (aka 'Atomic'), an infostealer intended for macOS devices and sold to malicious actors on a monthly subscription basis for $1,000. 

The malware recently appeared in various malvertising campaigns promoting bogus Google Meet conferencing pages, and it is now the preferred stealer for fraudsters targeting Apple customers. 

Targeting Homebrew customers 

Homebrew is a popular open-source package manager for macOS and Linux that lets you install, update, and manage software using the command line. 

A fraudulent Google advertising featured the correct Homebrew URL, "brew.sh," misleading even seasoned users into clicking it. However, the ad redirected users to a bogus Homebrew website hosted at "brewe.sh". Malvertisers have extensively exploited this URL strategy to trick users into visiting what appears to be a legitimate website for a project or organisation.

When the visitor arrives at the site, he or she is requested to install Homebrew by copying and pasting a command from the macOS Terminal or Linux shell prompt. The official Homebrew website provides a similar command for installing legitimate software. However, running the command displayed on the bogus website will download and execute malware on the device. 

Cybersecurity expert JAMESWT discovered that the malware injected in this case [VirusTotal] is Amos, a potent infostealer that targets over 50 cryptocurrency extensions, desktop wallets, and online browser data. Mike McQuaid, Homebrew's project leader, indicated that the project is aware of the situation but that it is beyond its control, criticising Google's lack of oversight. 

"Mac Homebrew Project Leader here. This seems taken down now," McQuaid stated on X. "There's little we can do about this really, it keeps happening again and again and Google seems to like taking money from scammers. Please signal-boost this and hopefully someone at Google will fix this for good.”

At the time of writing, the malicious ad has been removed, but the campaign could still run through other redirection domains, therefore Homebrew users should be aware of sponsored project adverts.

To mitigate the risk of malware infection, while clicking on a link in Google, make sure you are directed to the authentic site for a project or company before entering sensitive information or installing software. Another safe option is to bookmark official project websites that you need to visit frequently when sourcing software and utilise them instead of searching online every time.
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Phishing Scams
2FA Cyber Attacks cybersecurity challenges Google Google Ads Hackers MalwareBytes Online Advertising Online Scams phishing kit Phishing Scams

Google Ads Phishing Scam Reaches New Extreme, Experts Warn of Ongoing Threat


Cybercriminals Target Google Ads Users in Sophisticated Phishing Attacks

Cybercriminals are intensifying their phishing campaigns against Google Ads users, employing advanced techniques to steal credentials and bypass two-factor authentication (2FA). This new wave of attacks is considered one of the most aggressive credential theft schemes, enabling hackers to gain unauthorized access to advertiser accounts and exploit them for fraudulent purposes.

According to cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes, attackers are creating highly convincing fake Google Ads login pages to deceive advertisers into entering their credentials. Once stolen, these login details allow hackers to fully control compromised accounts, running malicious ads or reselling access on cybercrime forums. Jérôme Segura, Senior Director of Research at Malwarebytes, described the campaign as a significant escalation in malvertising tactics, potentially affecting thousands of advertisers worldwide.

How the Attack Works

The attack process is alarmingly effective. Cybercriminals design fake Google Ads login pages that closely mimic official ones. When advertisers enter their credentials, the phishing kits deployed by attackers capture login details, session cookies, and even 2FA tokens. With this information, hackers can take over accounts instantly, running deceptive ads or selling access to these accounts on the dark web.

Additionally, attackers use techniques like cloaking to bypass Google’s ad policies. Cloaking involves showing different content to Google’s reviewers and unsuspecting users, allowing fraudulent ads to pass through Google's checks while leading victims to harmful websites.

Google’s Response and Recommendations

Google has acknowledged the issue and stated that measures are being taken to address the threat. “We have strict policies to prevent deceptive ads and actively remove bad actors from our platforms,” a Google spokesperson explained. The company is urging advertisers to take immediate steps if they suspect their accounts have been compromised. These steps include resetting passwords, reviewing account activity, and enabling enhanced security measures like security keys.

Cybersecurity experts, including Segura, recommend advertisers exercise caution when clicking on sponsored ads, even those that appear legitimate. Additional safety measures include:

  • Using ad blockers to limit exposure to malicious ads.
  • Regularly monitoring account activity for any unauthorized changes.
  • Being vigilant about the authenticity of login pages, especially for critical services like Google Ads.

Despite Google’s ongoing efforts to combat these attacks, the scale and sophistication of phishing campaigns continue to grow. This underscores the need for increased vigilance and robust cybersecurity practices to protect sensitive information and prevent accounts from being exploited by cybercriminals.

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Google security
Advertisement Data Breach data security Google Google Ads Google Flaws Google security

Google Ads Glitch Exposes Sensitive Competitor Data, Causes Reporting Disruption

 

A significant glitch in Google Ads recently disrupted advertisers’ access to critical performance data and inadvertently exposed sensitive competitor information, raising concerns about data security and potential unfair business practices. The issue, which began on July 30, 2024, led to the temporary unavailability of key reporting tools and product management features, complicating campaign management for businesses. 

The main issue with the glitch was the accidental exposure of sensitive competitor information. Between July 30 and July 31, 2024, a small number of advertisers could view unrelated item IDs, product titles, and Merchant Center information from other accounts. This breach allowed advertisers to identify direct competitors by searching through the exposed product titles, raising significant privacy and competitive fairness concerns. Furthermore, the Products, Product Groups, and Listing Groups pages were down across the web interface, API, and Google Ads Editor. This outage prevented advertisers from accessing essential performance data, including insights into competitors’ products and advertising strategies. 

Although the exposed data did not include personal information, it provided valuable insights into competitors’ advertising methods, potentially giving some advertisers an unfair advantage. This incident underscored severe issues regarding data security and the possibility of unethical business practices. Google acknowledged the problem and is actively working to resolve it. Ginny Marvin, a Google Ads liaison, mentioned on X (formerly Twitter) that the team is “actively looking into” the issue and will provide updates as more information becomes available. 

However, the company has not provided detailed information about the cause of the glitch or the number of affected users. In response to this incident, some advertising agencies have started encrypting sensitive information within client accounts to prevent future breaches. As of August 4, 2024, Google reported via its dashboard and product liaison handle on X that while some accounts might still be impacted, services have been fully restored to other accounts. For accounts not affected by this issue, all reporting services have been restored.  

Google has assured users that it is continuing efforts to restore reporting services for the Report Editor and the Products tab for affected accounts. They promised to provide further updates as more information becomes available and to reach out directly to all impacted customers with details on the incident. Advertisers are advised to be cautious when accessing their Google Ads accounts and to avoid acting on any data until Google confirms that the issue is fully resolved. The ongoing efforts by Google to restore all reports online are a positive step towards re-establishing data security and confidence in the platform.
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Youtube
Ad Blockers Cyber Security Digital Ads Digital Platform Google Google Ads Server Youtube

Google's Ad Blocker Crackdown Sparks Controversy

 

Concerns have been raised by consumers and proponents of digital rights as a result of Google's recent increased crackdown on ad blockers. The move exposes a multifaceted effort that involves purposeful browser slowdowns and strict actions on YouTube, as reported in pieces sources.

According to Channel News, YouTube's ad blocker crackdown has reached new heights. Users attempting to bypass ads on the platform are facing increased resistance, with reports of ad blockers becoming less effective. This raises questions about the future of ad blocking on one of the world's most popular video-sharing platforms.

Google has taken a controversial step by intentionally slowing down browsers to penalize users employing ad blockers. This aggressive tactic, designed to discourage the use of ad-blocking extensions, has sparked outrage among users who rely on these tools for a smoother online experience.

The Register delves deeper into Google's strategy, outlining the technical aspects of how the search giant is implementing browser slowdowns. The article suggests that this move is not only an attempt to protect its advertising revenue but also a way to assert control over the online advertising ecosystem.

While Google argues that these measures are necessary to maintain a fair and sustainable digital advertising landscape, critics argue that such actions limit user freedom and choice. The concern is not merely about the impact on ad-blocker users; it also raises questions about the broader implications for online privacy and the control that tech giants exert over users' online experiences.

As the internet becomes increasingly integral to daily life, the balance between user empowerment and the interests of digital platforms is a delicate one. Google's recent actions are sure to reignite the debate on the ethics of ad blocking and the extent to which tech companies can dictate user behavior.

Google's strong action against ad blockers serves as a reminder of the continuous conflict between user autonomy and the profit-driven objectives of digital titans. These activities have consequences that go beyond the advertising industry and spark a broader conversation about the future of online privacy and the power corporations have over the digital environment.
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Google Ads
Antivirus Cybeesecurity Cyber Attacks Cyber Hackers CyberCrime Fake Windows Google Ads

Digital Deception: Hackers Target Users with Malware via Fake Windows News on Google Ads

 


In recent years, hackers have discovered new methods to spread their malware in order to steal any information they can. The hacker has been reported to be using Google Ads in order to make money, according to Bleeping Computer. Approximately a dozen domains have been reported to be hosting the WindowsReport independent media site. '

To infiltrate Google's advertising network, hackers disguise themselves using this method before setting up their own accounts. Hackers provided a run-up of CPU-Z over the fake WindowsReport website on which hackers hosted their exploit. In Windows, CPU-Z is one of the most useful free tools available for monitoring the hardware components of the computer. When searched before the site is traced, that site will end up as a RedLine Stealer or malicious application to steal information from users. 

The software allows hackers to filter sensitive system data including stored passwords, payment information, cookies, cryptocurrency wallets, and similar information in order to gain access to systems. In order to attract large numbers of people to click on these malicious CPU-Zs in Google Ads, hackers intentionally promote these malicious CPU-Zs in Google Ads advertisements. 

A number of diversions will be needed to let the users avoid Google's anti-familication cranes before they are allowed to enter the actual CPU-Z site. A cloned version of WindowsReport has been created, as per the researchers, in order to add legitimacy and trustworthiness to the entire campaign. Researchers also found that before users are redirected to the cloned website, they pass through a number of redirects in order to avoid Google's anti-abuse spiders. 

Those who are redirected to benign pages are more likely to be redirected to the final website. It is not clear exactly how attackers decide which users to send RedLine to, as it remains unclear how they choose those users. In addition, the installer is digitally signed with a valid certificate, so it is likely that Windows security tools and other antivirus products will not identify it as malicious, which makes matters worse.  

According to Malwarebytes, the attackers who were behind this campaign are the same people who created the Notepad++ attack recently, based on their analysis of the threat actors' infrastructure. It was similar in that the malware was accompanied by a copy of a legitimate website and malicious ads, all of which were served through Google Adwords. It was discovered late in October that this campaign had similar characteristics.  

When searching for products and solutions on Google, make sure to be extra cautious when downloading anything and double-check the URL in the address bar in order to ensure that the website you are going to download is safe before downloading anything. Recent revelations of hackers exploiting Google Adwords to spread malware highlight the need for enhanced cyber vigilance in an ever-evolving landscape of digital threats. 

The curtain is falling on this nefarious act, and as a result, users are reminded to be cautious when navigating through the vast online landscape. In addition to the deceptions the hackers used to deceive us, they also created cloned legitimacy in order to gain credibility. This shows how sophisticated cyber threats have become in the modern era. 

There has been no shortage of attacks that use the cloak of Google Adwords as a means of spreading their malicious agenda in this symphony of disguise, previously linked to the Notepad++ attack. In this digital age of scrutiny, awareness is our greatest shield, and scrutiny is users' armour as the digital curtain falls. This should serve as a reminder as the digital curtain falls.
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Phishing Attack
Cyber Fraud Data Leak Google Ads Malvertising Phishing Attack

Hackers are Using Fake PC News Website to Distribute Infostealers

 

Researchers made an effort to warn users last year not to click on Google Ads in search results, but it appears those warnings went unheeded, as hackers continue to use malicious ads to infect unsuspecting users with malware. 

Malvertising, or malicious advertising, has grown in popularity among cybercriminals as phishing attacks and malicious apps have become less effective. Instead, hackers are now purchasing advertising space on Google Search and other search engines in order to trick users into installing malware. 

One way they do this is by imitating well-known brands. So far, we've seen hackers pose as Amazon, USPS, CCleaner, Notepad++, and other prominent brands. According to a report from the email security firm Vade, Facebook and Microsoft continue to be the most impersonated brands since 2020. 

Unsuspecting PC users who click on an advertisement in this new campaign are led to a fake download portal that looks authentic to the unwary eye. Instead of CPU-Z, though, the website offers a digitally signed MSIX installer that includes a malicious PowerShell script for the FakeBat loader. 

Malware loaders, as their name implies, are similar to malware droppers on your smartphone in that they are used to infect your computer with malicious software. This loader downloads and installs the Redline stealer onto a targeted PC. The personal information of a victim can be acquired through this malware via the theft of credit card numbers, VPN passwords, saved passwords, system data, cryptocurrency wallets, browser histories, and cookies. 

Another intriguing aspect of this campaign is that not every user who clicks on these malicious CPU-Z advertisements is redirected to a fake download page. Those who aren't being targeted are instead directed to what looks to be a typical blog with several articles on it.
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