Targeted Ads are a Cybersecurity Risk | Avoid the Hack (avoidthehack!)
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/11049489

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the risks associated with targeted ads and malvertising. It offers insights into the different ways malvertising can be carried out and how it can appear on any advertisement on any website, including popular ones. It cites examples of high-profile malvertising cases involving major companies and platforms. The article also highlights the dangers of malicious scripts that can be downloaded without user interaction and discusses the potential risks of scams and phishing.

The article provides clear and actionable advice on how to mitigate these risks, such as blocking ads and associated scripts, using adblocking software like uBlock Origin, and employing DNS resolvers capable of blocking malware and ads.

It also offers guidance on what to do when blocking ads is not possible, emphasizing the importance of avoiding clicking on displayed advertisements and being cautious of too-good-to-be-true offers.

Overall, the article is well-researched, informative, and provides a resource for understanding the risks of targeted ads and malvertising.

  • gsfraley@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    7 months ago

    Luckily Google is here to save us. Just replace the word “save” with “screw”. Ad revenue over safety, always.

  • PrefersAwkward@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    7 months ago

    I remember about a decade ago, when I was a student, I helped a small company with some office work. An office admin showed me various things using her computer, such as their QuickBooks data. The bevy of ads I saw suggested to me that she was a religious, dog-owning, single parent, and she was clearly seeking a partner and she was about 50 years old. I got all this just from the front page of her yahoo and was blown away at how specific and personal those ads were. And some of the ads were Spanish so she’s easily bilingual.

    Totally creeped me out and I wasn’t sure she even knew that her computer was just broadcasting to her office all her personal info. She regularly collaborated with countless others, even new faces, using this same computer, where anyone could see what I saw.