Imagine a digital battleground where sneaky malvertisements, armed with malware, lurk beneath the surface, ready to ambush unsuspecting users.
It's like a malicious game of hide-and-seek, and sadly, the current nature of the digital ad business provides the perfect camouflage for these digital delinquents.
Advertising has always been a haven for miscreants of all stripes, from cyber hooligans to organized troublemakers. With the introduction of digital media and the enticing world of programmatic advertising, the stage was prepared for the birth of "malvertising" - the practice of presenting malware-laden advertisements to unsuspecting victims. These malicious advertisements do more than irritate; they breach computer systems, wreak havoc on customers, publishers, and platforms, and leave a trail of destruction in their wake.
In this saga of digital darkness, the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) has sounded the alarm bells. They've released the first chapter in a series of "threat assessment" reports for the ad industry. Their findings?
Malvertising is brewing, and deteriorating advertising circumstances are the wind under its wings. It's like a superhero losing their abilities just as a supervillain rises.
Consider this: Users navigate famous websites, social media platforms, and search engine results blissfully oblivious while harmful and low-quality adverts lurk in the shadows. The standard cybersecurity training routine focuses mainly on the dangers of email and text-based social engineering assaults, creating a yawning hole that fraudsters are eager to fill.
TAG's paper, "Exploiting Social Engineering Tactics on the Rise in Malvertising," delves into this new threat scenario. It's a crash course on the quickly changing world of malvertising, replete with a helpful glossary to help you navigate the perilous terms.
But wait, there's more! The report also unmasks other nefarious practices dancing in the shadows:
Social Engineering: A psychological ploy that dupes victims into disclosing personal information or allowing access to their systems.
Phishing: A cyber scam in which criminals use emails or other platforms to mimic trustworthy sources to steal sensitive data or penetrate computer systems.
Multichannel Phishing: A nefarious extension of phishing that spreads like wildfire over several communication channels.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Poisoning: A dangerous tactic in which fraudsters enhance the position of their malicious websites in search results, luring unwary consumers into malware-laden traps.
Mike Lyden, TAG's Vice President of Threat Intelligence, hinted at the company's accelerated expansion, fueled by a digital advertising industry ripe for disruption. Reputable experts in the cybersecurity arena estimate that the growth rate of overall phishing is around "35% to 50%" annually – and malvertising might just be sprinting ahead in this cyber race.
As this compelling story concludes, a clear warning emerges: 2023 appears to be setting the stage for a massive malvertising storm. The bleak economic outlook has placed a pall over the advertising scene, allowing hackers to plant their evil seeds. "Bad ads thrive in bad times," cautions the research, repeating a foreboding refrain. The slowdown in the ad tech business may be the signal that cybercriminals have been waiting for as they prepare to capitalize on the turbulence and disarray in the weakening ad market.
Photo: Freepik/Master1305
Read next: Loyalty Programs: The Sneaky Sock-Saving Illusion
It's like a malicious game of hide-and-seek, and sadly, the current nature of the digital ad business provides the perfect camouflage for these digital delinquents.
Advertising has always been a haven for miscreants of all stripes, from cyber hooligans to organized troublemakers. With the introduction of digital media and the enticing world of programmatic advertising, the stage was prepared for the birth of "malvertising" - the practice of presenting malware-laden advertisements to unsuspecting victims. These malicious advertisements do more than irritate; they breach computer systems, wreak havoc on customers, publishers, and platforms, and leave a trail of destruction in their wake.
In this saga of digital darkness, the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) has sounded the alarm bells. They've released the first chapter in a series of "threat assessment" reports for the ad industry. Their findings?
Malvertising is brewing, and deteriorating advertising circumstances are the wind under its wings. It's like a superhero losing their abilities just as a supervillain rises.
Consider this: Users navigate famous websites, social media platforms, and search engine results blissfully oblivious while harmful and low-quality adverts lurk in the shadows. The standard cybersecurity training routine focuses mainly on the dangers of email and text-based social engineering assaults, creating a yawning hole that fraudsters are eager to fill.
TAG's paper, "Exploiting Social Engineering Tactics on the Rise in Malvertising," delves into this new threat scenario. It's a crash course on the quickly changing world of malvertising, replete with a helpful glossary to help you navigate the perilous terms.
But wait, there's more! The report also unmasks other nefarious practices dancing in the shadows:
Social Engineering: A psychological ploy that dupes victims into disclosing personal information or allowing access to their systems.
Phishing: A cyber scam in which criminals use emails or other platforms to mimic trustworthy sources to steal sensitive data or penetrate computer systems.
Multichannel Phishing: A nefarious extension of phishing that spreads like wildfire over several communication channels.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Poisoning: A dangerous tactic in which fraudsters enhance the position of their malicious websites in search results, luring unwary consumers into malware-laden traps.
Mike Lyden, TAG's Vice President of Threat Intelligence, hinted at the company's accelerated expansion, fueled by a digital advertising industry ripe for disruption. Reputable experts in the cybersecurity arena estimate that the growth rate of overall phishing is around "35% to 50%" annually – and malvertising might just be sprinting ahead in this cyber race.
As this compelling story concludes, a clear warning emerges: 2023 appears to be setting the stage for a massive malvertising storm. The bleak economic outlook has placed a pall over the advertising scene, allowing hackers to plant their evil seeds. "Bad ads thrive in bad times," cautions the research, repeating a foreboding refrain. The slowdown in the ad tech business may be the signal that cybercriminals have been waiting for as they prepare to capitalize on the turbulence and disarray in the weakening ad market.
Photo: Freepik/Master1305
Read next: Loyalty Programs: The Sneaky Sock-Saving Illusion
