Google Deletes Rogue Ads, Dangers Persist

An anonymous reader writes passed us a link to a PC World article about attempts by Google to curb malicious ads via their popular service. The article is somewhat bleak, though, because researchers see the fix as nothing more than temporary. "'Search engines are just too easy a target for bad guys,' says Roger Thompson of Exploit Security Labs. On April 25, Exploit Prevention Labs reported that malware distributors were using advertisements placed via Google's automated AdWords system to infect unsuspecting end-users with spyware designed to capture bank login user names and passwords."

Comments

Re:Google has to require link = real destination

[bitt3n]

Attackers can buy ads for "Bank of America" and have them redirect to "slimeballcentral.biz".

This is even more nefarious because many long-term BoA customers will simply assume the destination URL to be a rare example of corporate transparency.

Whole new meaning

[Myria]

I guess that this gives a whole new meaning to "I'm Feeling Lucky".

This just in

[aero6dof]

Researchers realize that everybody would be safest if we all just sat in the dark and shunned communication with anyone.