Hackers use Ads to Capture your Clicks

by | Feb 4, 2015 | News

Beyond email phishing to trick unsuspecting email users, hackers have also been buying online ads on popular websites to capture your clicks and infect your computers.

We’ve all seen ads with images on websites that look very interesting and almost impossible to ignore, such as “adorable kittens you’ve got to see” or “watch Grandma open new iPad on Christmas morning video”.

Many of these ads are displayed on HuffingtonPost, CBSsports, Match.com and other popular websites.  The ads are published online, frequently without the knowledge of the website company owner.  This happens because websites sell their ad space the same way radio stations, billboard companies, and some newspapers do, through ad networks.  It’s more efficient to sell ad space this way, and also more efficient to buy ad space in larger quantities.

The problem is that hackers can buy ads on ad networks also, and they can attract unsuspecting clickers with “impossible to resist” images and headlines.  Once a person clicks on the ad, their computer is directed to a fake website landing page which hosts the malicious program that gets installed on their computer and it’s game over.

How to Prevent this ?

Use AdBlocker or similar tools on each computer and browser to block the ads completely. Or use a centrally managed UTM or proxy to block ads for the whole company network.

Backup each and every computer, not just the servers.  People don’t follow instructions to only store their critical data in certain places, With so many mobile workers using laptops outside of the office for days or weeks at a time, more data is being lost due to lack of user-based backups.

Hackers are also using every cyber security breach incident to trick and attack more people, under the auspices of helping them.  Read more about this on our LinkedIN page, such as the recent Anthem breach hack.

Powerful protection for data on the edge

Protect your data on the edge: enable productivity without putting your organization at risk.

Let’s face it. The work that matters is conducted and stored on your colleagues’ laptops, tablets and phones. Most of it doesn’t get back to the server or external drives – even if daily or weekly backup is “mandated”. But those colleagues still want their data backed up and available – should the need arise – on whatever device they choose.

It’s not a matter of when, it’s a matter of how you plan to give your mobile workforce the tools they need to enable productivity – while protecting the data they’re creating – for the good of the organization.

Get the endpoint backup platform that’s trusted by more than 30,000 businesses including some of the world’s most recognized brands. For more than 7 years, Code42’s endpoint data protection and management solution – CrashPlan – has helped enterprises of all sizes regain control of corporate information and minimize risk, while protecting mission critical data on any device.

Why CrashPlan?

  • CrashPlan runs silently and continuously, using minuscule network bandwidth and requiring no intervention from users

  • It works across platforms and provides end-to-end data security at the source, in transit and at rest

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  • CrashPlan empowers end users with easy, self-service access to protected files from any computer or mobile device Code42 can help protect your data from edge to edge.

For more info, ask us for an executive brief and white paper to find out how to protect the data in your organization using Code42 Crashplan Enterprise Online Backup.

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