Internet Security Tips

In order to avoid search engine malware, you should understand what this is. Recently, there have been lots of reports from customers, downloading malware as they clicked on promoted search results.

So, let’s find out what this is and how to stay away from it.

What is this malware?

Search engine malware is a method that villains use to spoof legitimate websites. They impersonate well-known websites and promote them using the search results on the most popular search engines.

So, when users search for a term, these websites occur amongst the first results in Google, or Bing. Once a user clicks on one of these ads, the result is downloading a dangerous piece of software. This might include malware, ransomware, or any other malicious software.

Just imagine that you use a legitimate program, and during a web search, you see an ad calling you to update it. If you do not pay attention to what you download, you become a victim of hackers.

So, it is that simple to infect your system and lose important information, access to your files, and even important amounts of money.

But there are things you can do to avoid such dangerous situations. Read on how to do this and keep your online life safe.

Learn how to recognize and avoid search engine malware

To stay away from such threats, you should mainly follow the online hygiene rules. So, remember to always think twice before clicking on any sponsored search results. You can recognize them easily, as you will see the “Ad” mark next to the title of the webpage.

Then, you should make sure that the link you choose to click from such a result, leads to a legitimate website. This might not be easy for all of us. But one way to do it is to hover your mouse over the link. When you do this, the full link appears in the left lower corner of your browser.

Read the link carefully, as attackers usually work a lot to spoof URLs. A safer way to act is to better scroll down to the unsponsored search results, and make sure they link to legitimate web addresses.

Also, remember to always think before clicking a link. If you do this and pay attention to all the details, you should stay on the safe side. So, this will save you the time you would spend to recover your system because of a browser or to recover access to your precious data. Always be cautious, and prevent any unpleasant situations.