Scareware Pop-Ups Target Google, New York Times

Scareware Pop-Ups Target Google, New York Times 

Experts Say Malicious Attacks Warning of Computer Viruses are on the Rise 

Austin, TX – According to a report by the Anti-Phishing Working Group, scareware attacks, or pop-up ads deceiving consumers into thinking their computer is infected with viruses, are on the rise. Most recently, companies like Google, Twitter and the New York Times are being exploited by hackers as part of a massive scareware attack on consumers. Better Business Bureau is offering advice to consumers on how to protect computers and personal information from the threat of scareware. 

“These scareware attacks are working because consumers trust the content appearing on their favorite Web sites,” said Carrie A. Hurt, President and CEO of BBB serving Central, Coastal and Southwest Texas.

In mid-September, visitors to the New York Times Web site suddenly received a pop-up window, which looked like a message from their own computer, warning that their computer had been infected with a virus. Users were then told to visit a Web site to purchase and download anti-virus software to fix the problem. The supposed anti-virus software not only installed even more viruses and malware onto the computer, but also stole users’ credit card information. 

According to the New York Times, the pop-up was generated by an unauthorized advertisement sold to hackers posing as Vonage. Click Forensics, an Internet traffic quality management company, is reporting it was the work of Ukrainian cybercrooks. 

The same scareware scenario is playing out on Google as well. According to Computer World Magazine, hackers are “poisoning Google search results.” Hackers monitor the news and hot topics online and use search engine optimization techniques to ensure that their Web sites are the top results. Clicks to the fake results can trigger a scareware attack. 

Microsoft has warned the public that scareware attacks are severely on the rise and now the company is fighting back. The company filed lawsuits against five companies, accusing them of being the source of scareware attacks.

Tips for Scareware Protection:

Never let your guard down. A scareware attack can happen on familiar news sites like the New York Times, in search engines results from Google and even on Twitter.

Protect your computer. Installing updates to your operating system can be done for free by enabling the option on your computer’s security center. Keep all anti-virus software up to date and make sure all security patches and updates are installed for programs that access the Internet.

Take immediate action during an attack. If you receive a scareware pop up window, experts recommend forcing the window to close through your task manager. To do this, hold down ctrl, alt, and delete at the same time, open your task manager, find the browser in the list of running programs and click “end task.” Finally, run an antivirus scan with trusted software.

If you clicked on the pop up and actually purchased the software, the prognosis is not good. The Washington Post offers advice on their Security Fix blog, but for the not-so-computer-savvy, you might need to call in a professional. 

For more advice on fighting off hackers and staying safe online, visit www.bbb.org. 

About BBB:

BBB's mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. BBB accomplishes this mission by creating a community of trustworthy businesses, setting standards for marketplace trust, encouraging and supporting best practices, celebrating marketplace role models and denouncing substandard marketplace behavior.