SECURITY
The reason why the FBI says you should use an ad blocker
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States has made a number of recommendations to help citizens avoid trouble.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a public service announcement urging internet users to take precautions to protect themselves, including the use of use ad blockers, from cybercriminals who are using search engine advertising services to impersonate legitimate businesses and steal personal information.
What is the methodology of cybercriminals?
In their announcement, the FBI warned that criminals are purchasing ads that appear in search results using domains that are very similar to the names of real businesses. These ads direct unsuspecting users to malicious websites where ransomware can be downloaded or login credentials and other financial information can be stolen.
The FBI pointed out that these ads are not limited to businesses but also target individuals looking for software to download. In many cases, the fraudulent website offers a link to download software that is actually malware.
These ads have also been used to impersonate websites involved in finance, particularly cryptocurrency exchanges. These malicious sites appear to be real exchanges, where users share their financial information, giving criminals access to their funds.
Tips to protect yourself:
To protect themselves, the FBI recommends that users take several precautions:
- Before clicking on an ad, check the URL to make sure the site is authentic. A malicious domain name can be similar to the intended URL but with typos or a misplaced letter.
- Instead of searching for a company or financial institution, type the company's URL in your browser's address bar to go directly to the official website.
- Use an ad blocking extension when searching the Internet.
How to report fraud to the FBI
If users suspect that they have been the victim of fraud or malware, they should report it to their local FBI office or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. By taking these precautions and reporting any suspicious activity, users can help protect themselves and others from cybercrime.