Cybersecurity company SOPHOS has issued an urgent warning about a new hacking tactic targeting specific search terms on Google, according to The New York Times. SOPHOS advised users not to type certain word combinations into search engines, as this could make them more vulnerable to cyberattacks.
The search phrase that has raised alarm is “Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?” which has reportedly led some users to have their personal information exposed online after clicking a suspicious link at the top of the search results. SOPHOS explained, “Victims are often enticed into clicking on malicious adware or links disguised as legitimate marketing, or in this case a legitimate Google search.”
The advisory suggested that hackers are focusing on users who include the term “Australia” in their searches, making Australians especially susceptible to these attacks. SOPHOS highlighted that clicking these misleading top search results can lead to theft of personal and banking details via a program called Gootloader, which can also lock users out of their own computers.
Although the search term ‘Bengal cats’ may seem niche, SOPHOS warned that users don’t need to search anything illegal or controversial to fall victim to these schemes. Cybercriminals are using a technique known as “SEO poisoning,” a strategy that manipulates search engine results to place their own harmful sites at the top, Daily Mail reports. This approach tricks users into clicking dangerous links that seem legitimate.
In light of this tactic, SOPHOS urged anyone who may have fallen victim to SEO poisoning to change their passwords and strengthen their security systems immediately.
Inputs from agencies
The search phrase that has raised alarm is “Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?” which has reportedly led some users to have their personal information exposed online after clicking a suspicious link at the top of the search results. SOPHOS explained, “Victims are often enticed into clicking on malicious adware or links disguised as legitimate marketing, or in this case a legitimate Google search.”
The advisory suggested that hackers are focusing on users who include the term “Australia” in their searches, making Australians especially susceptible to these attacks. SOPHOS highlighted that clicking these misleading top search results can lead to theft of personal and banking details via a program called Gootloader, which can also lock users out of their own computers.
Although the search term ‘Bengal cats’ may seem niche, SOPHOS warned that users don’t need to search anything illegal or controversial to fall victim to these schemes. Cybercriminals are using a technique known as “SEO poisoning,” a strategy that manipulates search engine results to place their own harmful sites at the top, Daily Mail reports. This approach tricks users into clicking dangerous links that seem legitimate.
In light of this tactic, SOPHOS urged anyone who may have fallen victim to SEO poisoning to change their passwords and strengthen their security systems immediately.
Inputs from agencies
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