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Spyware manufacturers are fully embracing the new method…
Spyware manufacturers are embracing a new way to install malware on users ' smartphones and computers — through online advertising. This puts the safety of millions of people around the world at risk.
This method of gaining access to devices is called "malvertising" — the introduction of malicious code into ads. Although successful attacks require interaction with the victim, such as clicking on a link, the widespread use of online advertising makes them extremely effective.
One of the companies that worked on malvertising tools is the European firm Intellexa, a developer of the Predator spyware. According to documents obtained by the Israeli news portal Haaretz, Intellexa presented a prototype system called Aladdin in 2022. Attackers could use it, for example, to disguise phishing links as job offers for graphic designers and activists.
Another Israeli company, Insanet, was able to develop a similar system. Their software made it possible to accurately determine the location of the victim on the network, which significantly expanded the possibilities of surveillance.
To protect against malvertising attacks, experts have long recommended using ad blockers, which not only hide ads, but also prevent loading of ad code.
In 2022, the FBI issued a public warning that also called for the use of blockers as a security measure. "Everyone should block ads, this is a security issue," Citizen Lab senior researcher John Scott-Rylton wrote on Twitter in response to the Haaretz investigation.
However, despite the obvious advantages, many users still ignore the recommendations. This is due to both a lack of awareness and a reluctance to lose access to free content that is funded by advertising.
Many services, like YouTube, prohibit this practice altogether. Although there are clear justifications for this (in particular, the support of content creators), viewers bear serious risks by agreeing to the terms of the platform.
Spyware manufacturers are embracing a new way to install malware on users ' smartphones and computers — through online advertising. This puts the safety of millions of people around the world at risk.
This method of gaining access to devices is called "malvertising" — the introduction of malicious code into ads. Although successful attacks require interaction with the victim, such as clicking on a link, the widespread use of online advertising makes them extremely effective.
One of the companies that worked on malvertising tools is the European firm Intellexa, a developer of the Predator spyware. According to documents obtained by the Israeli news portal Haaretz, Intellexa presented a prototype system called Aladdin in 2022. Attackers could use it, for example, to disguise phishing links as job offers for graphic designers and activists.
Another Israeli company, Insanet, was able to develop a similar system. Their software made it possible to accurately determine the location of the victim on the network, which significantly expanded the possibilities of surveillance.
To protect against malvertising attacks, experts have long recommended using ad blockers, which not only hide ads, but also prevent loading of ad code.
In 2022, the FBI issued a public warning that also called for the use of blockers as a security measure. "Everyone should block ads, this is a security issue," Citizen Lab senior researcher John Scott-Rylton wrote on Twitter in response to the Haaretz investigation.
However, despite the obvious advantages, many users still ignore the recommendations. This is due to both a lack of awareness and a reluctance to lose access to free content that is funded by advertising.
Many services, like YouTube, prohibit this practice altogether. Although there are clear justifications for this (in particular, the support of content creators), viewers bear serious risks by agreeing to the terms of the platform.
