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Mac users served info-stealer malware through Google ads | Full-service Poseidon info stealer pushed by "advertiser identity verified by Google." (arstechnica.com)

submitted 4 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Mac malware that steals passwords, cryptocurrency wallets, and other sensitive data has been spotted circulating through Google ads, making it at least the second time in as many months the widely used ad platform has been abused to infect web surfers.

Like most other large advertising networks, Google Ads regularly serves malicious content that isn’t taken down until third parties have notified the company. Google Ads takes no responsibility for any damage that may result from these oversights. The company said in an email it removes malicious ads once it learns of them and suspends the advertiser and has done so in this case.

People who want to install software advertised online should seek out the official download site rather than relying on the site linked in the ad. They should also be wary of any instructions that direct Mac users to install apps through the right-click method mentioned earlier. The Malwarebytes post provides indicators of compromise people can use to determine if they’ve been targeted.

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[–] [email protected] 76 points 4 months ago (12 children)

With even the FBI recommending adblockers maybe ads aren't the thing we should prop up our economy with. They don't work, people hate them, and now even passively ignoring them isn't an option. But I don't know if the world can operate on the Patreon model.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 4 months ago

I think you could eliminate all tracked advertising across the internet and the losses would be much smaller than Google would have you believe.

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