You’ve heard it a million times: don’t believe everything you see online.
This includes… drumroll… online advertising. Or, as we call it, Malvertising. Those ads look official but come with a side of malware instead.
I remember seeing a legit-looking Walmart advertisement as a sponsored result on Google. It led directly to one of those cheesy, full-screen, fake virus alerts. It took up the whole screen and started speaking. All bogus.
Here’s how they work their digital mischief:
- Fake virus alerts – “Your computer is INFECTED! Call this ‘tech support’ number NOW!”
- Bogus downloads – That free software? Are you sure there’s not a malware catch?
- Drive-by infections – Ads so nasty, they don’t even need you to click. They just show up and start causing chaos. (Rude.)
This isn’t just an inconvenience for businesses… it’s a straight-up disaster. Stolen data, drained bank accounts, and wasted hours fixing the mess. Good times, right?
So, how do you fight back?
- Educate your team – If an ad screams “TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE,” it probably is. Forward an email or Teams reminder to your team with a screenshot of what you saw.
- Keep your browser updated – Those silly updates could contain an important security fix.
- And for the love of Wi-Fi, stop clicking random ads.
Long story short: Think before you click. Your cybersecurity (and sanity) will thank you.
