Ye scurvy dogs be usin' witchcraft to trick Google into showin' their treacherous schemes to unsuspectin' landlubbers! Arrr!
2024-05-29
Beware ye scallywags! The scurvy AI scammers be payin' for ads to hoist their deceitful websites to the top of yer search results. 'Tis a treacherous trap, for they be wearin' the cloak of trustworthiness! Be sure to keep a weather eye out, me hearties! Arrr!
In the digital age, where searching online has become second nature, even the simplest inquiries can expose you to risks. Advanced artificial intelligence scams are lurking behind innocuous search engine queries, leveraging what's known as "search engine optimization" to deceive users, according to expert advice from GuidePoint Security, highlighting how cybercriminals manipulate these systems. These schemers purchase ads to position their bogus websites atop your search results, cunningly disguised as trustworthy sites.Take "PayPal" as an example; a superficial glance might show promising results, but a deeper investigation reveals deceit. Ads promising secure account access might redirect you to fraudulent sites cleverly designed to mimic PayPal's login page, but their true intent is to pilfer your money and personal information. The dishonesty has evolved with technology, such as a letter "U" intentionally distorted to resemble a horseshoe, which is subtle enough to trick the untrained eye and entice enough to make you click.Another alarming case involved "Quicken Tech Support." The top "sponsored" result failed to link to Quicken's actual website despite promising round-the-clock support, showing just how deceptive these links can be. Even when such fraudulent ads are flagged and removed, new ones often emerge to take their place, perpetuating this digital game of cat and mouse.While SEO search scams often occur when scammers buy ads in search results, another source of these types of scams can come from malware on your device or a compromised browser extension. So, if you see any of these trick ads in search or appearing on any website, immediately run reputable antivirus protection software to help identify and remove them. The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may get access to your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices.Although Google is effective at removing a vast majority of these SEO scam ads, some still sneak through before they are caught. It’s up to you and me to watch out for ourselves by embracing the tools needed to be resilient against getting compromised. You need to stay vigilant and informed to navigate the online world safely, shielding yourself from the ever-evolving threats posed by cyberscammers. Can you share a time when you almost fell for an online scam and what red flags helped you avoid it? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact. For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Follow Kurt on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions.Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.