🚨Google Ads Delivered Tech Support Scam for 15 Days
Google's ad platform served a sophisticated tech support scam
TL;DR
Google's ad platform delivered a sophisticated tech support scam from Aug 31 to Sep 14, affecting high-traffic sites. Netskope observed clicks from 619 orgs, with 62% in the US. The scam mimics real infections, freezing screens and hiding cursors.
Google's ad platform delivered a sophisticated tech support scam from August 31 to September 14, affecting high-traffic websites. Netskope observed users from 619 customer organizations clicking on the malicious ads, with 62% of the affected organizations based in the US. Japan and Australia followed as the second and third most affected regions. The scam displays a fake security warning that freezes the screen and hides the cursor, making it look like a real infection. Users can still exit the scam by pressing the escape key for several seconds or using Task Manager on Windows or the equivalent on Mac. This incident highlights the need for robust ad scanning and user education.
Key Points
Google ads delivered a tech support scam from Aug 31 to Sep 14, affecting 619 customer orgs.
62% of affected orgs were in the US, with Japan and Australia following.
The scam displayed fake security warnings, freezing screens and hiding cursors.
Users can exit the scam by pressing escape for several seconds or using Task Manager.
Google blocked over 99% of violating ads last year before they were served.
Why It Matters
If you're running ads on Google's platform, this incident highlights the need for robust ad scanning and user education. The scam affected high-traffic sites, impacting users globally. Users need to be aware of such tactics and know how to safely exit the scam.
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