Cyber Security

Malvertising is a harmful attack in which malicious ads blend into legitimate advertising. These deceptive advertisements can quickly lead to malware infections or data breaches.

As digital advertising expands, so does the threat of a well-crafted malvertising campaign. Are you aware of how these harmful ads can affect you? Discover more about malvertising and how to protect yourself from these dangerous online threats.

What is Malvertising?

Malvertising, or malicious advertising, is a cyberattack method where ads carry malicious code designed to infect devices. These ads are placed on legitimate websites through an ad network, exploiting vulnerabilities in browsers or software to deliver malware like adware or spyware.

These infected ads can compromise a device just by being displayed without any action from the user.

Hence, it presents a serious cybersecurity risk because even trusted sites can unknowingly display these harmful ads.

How Does Malvertising Work?

So, how does it actually work?

In employing this attack, cybercriminals embed malicious software in online ads, or malvertisements, that appear on trusted websites. They distribute these harmful ads through ad networks.

Simply visiting a webpage with these ads can lead to an automatic download of malware.

The risk becomes higher when users click on an ad, which can trigger the installation of threats like ransomware or spyware.

These malvertisements can infect any device, including a mobile device, by exploiting security weaknesses. Once active, the malicious software can steal sensitive data, lock files, or cause other cyber damages.

What’s the Difference Between Malvertising vs. Ad Malware?

Malvertising and ad malware both involve harmful ads but function differently. 

Malvertising uses legitimate ad networks to place malicious ads on reputable websites. Users don’t need to click; just visiting a site with these ads can lead to an attack. It aims to deliver threats silently through genuine-looking ads.

Conversely, ad malware is software that gets installed on a user’s device, often unknowingly, and then displays unwanted ads or redirects the user to suspicious sites. Unlike malvertising, it remains active on the device, causing continuous disruptions.

The key difference? Malvertising spreads threats through ads on legitimate websites, while ad malware infects a device directly and continuously shows unwanted ads. Both can lead to further risks like adware.

6 Common Malvertising Attack Tactics

This malware attack can come in various tactics. Here are some of the most common ones:

Exploit Kits

These tools find and exploit vulnerabilities in a user’s system or browser. When someone visits a website with a malicious ad, these kits detect security gaps and deliver malware automatically.

Phishing Ads

Phishing ads look like genuine advertisements but are designed to steal sensitive information. These ads lead to fake sites that mimic trusted ones, tricking users into entering credentials. Clicking on a phishing ad can result in financial fraud or identity theft.

Drive-by Downloads

With this tactic, malware is automatically downloaded just by visiting a webpage containing a malicious ad. Users don’t need to click on anything; the download happens due to browser or plugin vulnerabilities.

This tactic often targets outdated software, making it a silent yet effective attack method.

Forced Redirects

Malicious ads trigger redirects to send users from a webpage to another, often harmful, site without clicks. It is often employed to generate fraudulent ad revenue or install malware.

Cryptojacking Scripts

Cryptojacking scripts use malvertising to hijack your device’s processing power to mine cryptocurrency without consent. Visiting a webpage with a harmful ad triggers this hidden mining, which drains system resources, slows performance, and increases power usage.

While this tactic doesn’t steal data, it can significantly degrade device performance and cause potential hardware damage.

Scareware

Attackers use scareware ads to push users into downloading fake security software or paying for unnecessary services based on their fear. These ads pop up with alarming messages about supposed “infections,” urging immediate action.

How to Avoid Malvertising

In Q1 of 2024, the trends of malvertising are getting various. Tactics like misleading product offers, malicious extensions and add-ons, financial ad scams, and tech support scams increased from 2023.

This data highlights the importance of understanding the right ways to avoid malvertising, even though it is hard to do so given the number of ads circulated online daily.

However, you should not give up on efforts to avoid these attacks. As a user, you can follow this simple guide:

• Keep your software updated
• Avoid Java or Flash at all costs when surfing the internet
• Install ad blockers and antivirus software

Meanwhile, organizations can take notes to avoid these attacks by making these efforts:

• Avoid JavaScript or Flash at all costs in ads
• Scan ads before displaying
• Evaluate the third-party ad networks
• Partner with a trusted, reputable cybersecurity company for better protection 

What Can You Do To Prevent Malvertising?

Update Your Software Regularly

Software updates involve security patches that fix vulnerabilities exploited by malicious ads. You can also set your devices for automatic updates so you don’t miss critical updates. Keeping everything up-to-date reduces the risk of malware infections.

Be Skeptical of Ads

Not all ads are safe. Be cautious of advertisements that offer deals that seem too good to be true or that ask for personal information. Avoid interacting with ads from unknown or suspicious sources.

Instead, if you see an offer you’re interested in, go directly to reputable websites.

Use Ad Blockers

Ad blockers help prevent malvertising by stopping ads from loading altogether. They filter out harmful ads before they even reach your screen. As a result, your browsing experience will be safer and less cluttered.

Choose an ad blocker that is well-reviewed and regularly updated. If you have the budget, you can also subscribe to the premium version to get the utmost protection.

Educate Yourself and Others

Knowledge is key to staying safe from malvertising. Learn about the latest threats and how they work. This awareness helps you recognize suspicious ads and avoid them.

Sharing what you know with friends, family, and coworkers can create a safer online community. The more people understand these threats, the harder it is for cybercriminals to succeed.

Employ Anti-Malware Tools

Regular scans of anti-malware tools can identify and remove threats that may have slipped through. This proactive approach minimizes damage from infections.

Choose tools that offer real-time protection and frequent updates. This ensures you are guarded against the latest threats.

Configure Your Web Browser

Disable pop-ups and block third-party cookies to limit exposure. Also, adjust your security settings to a higher level for added protection.

Enable Click-to-Play Plugins

Click-to-play plugins prevent risky content from running automatically. Enabling this feature means you can control which scripts and ads are displayed. This limits the chances of malicious ads executing harmful code.

Regularly Monitor Your Devices

Monitor your devices for any unusual activity. Unexpected pop-ups, slow performance, or strange behavior can be signs of malvertising. If anything seems off, run a security scan right away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Malvertising is a growing threat that uses deceptive ads to spread malware and compromise security. You want to avoid falling for the tricks, do you? Thus, please update your software, use ad blockers, and be aware of other potential risks to help protect your data.

Taking the right precautions can minimize your chances of becoming the victim of these attacks.

Want to safeguard your digital environment and get professional cybersecurity support? Contact Fluxgate for expert assistance today.