• Security Park, Monday, November 3, 2008 1:03 PM

Scammers have been using SEO to infect unsuspecting searchers' computers with malware, according to the news portal securitypark.net. Here's how the scheme works: using tools like Google Trends, scammers identify the most popular search terms, which they then insert into fake Web sites. When users visit those sites, they are directed to video players where they are told they must download a "codec" to watch the clip. Instead, they're unwittingly downloading infecting malware, including "fake anti-virus software which promises to clean non existent viruses from the computer in return for their credit card details."

"Using search engine optimization to promote web pages hosting malware shows increasing levels of sophistication and professionalism on the part of the criminals," according to Phil Hay, Lead Threat Analyst for Marshal's TRACE Team, cited in the article. "The use of fake video players to disguise the installation of fake anti-virus programs is not new. This kind of activity has been going on for many months now, but previously the links have been promoted via spam. This new approach shows a diversification of tactics."

Read the whole story at Security Park »