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Porn Sites More Infected Than Thought

Posted by timothy on from the we-need-some-um-research-funds dept.

nk497 writes "Porn sites are five times as likely to host malware as previously thought, with 3.6% offering up a digital infection of some sort, according to a researchers who set up their very own adult sites for a new study. One reason for the high rate of malware is that the online porn industry makes use of affiliate programs, where one site will drive traffic to another in exchange for links, cash, or simply free pornographic material to use. Because such programs don't check who they're doing business with, and sites use disguised links and other clandestine methods to drive people to different pages, it's easy for criminals to abuse the system to spread malware. Researcher Gilbert Wondracek said, 'They inadvertently have created an ecosystem that can easily be abused on a large scale by cyber criminals, and that's worrying.'"

6 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. Weird by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Weird.

    That is WAY lower than I'd have expected.

  2. Alternatively by SamSim · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't know the stats, but maybe it's more correct to say that malware sites are more likely to host pornography than they are to fall into other categories? It's probably the best way to attract large streams of users.

    --
    qntm.org
  3. Bad Advertisers in General by Bieeanda · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Porn sites aren't the only ones promiscuously mixing affiliates: there's a great deal of it going on with otherwise decent web advertisers as well, with results that range from the merely annoying to just as dangerous. It's very difficult to track the sources down beyond the first few layers because the whole thing is a bunged-up mess.

  4. It's a ripe environment for scammers by Perp+Atuitie · · Score: 4, Insightful

    not only because of the sloppy tech, but because of the clientele. Lots of money flowing from folks trying to lose their real identities and who are less likely than most to try and seek investigations if they get scammed. Doesn't get better than this.

  5. Re:Funny Off-Topic-But-Related Note by Aladrin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    On the other hand, the kind of person that surfs for porn in a public place is the kind you want to clean up after, computer viruses or not. She's making a smart move, if for the wrong reason.

    --
    "If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
  6. Re:Simple one-person solution... by Tubal-Cain · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...nothing on your HD is touched.

    What hard drive? ;-)