Clickbait That Bites Back

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.

Originally published at geek3.com on March 19, 2025