Google, Microsoft ad networks briefly hit by with malware

[Peaches]

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<h1>Google, Microsoft ad networks briefly hit by with malware

IDG News Service - For a brief period this week, cybercriminals managed to infect Google's and Microsoft's online ad networks with malicious advertisements that attacked users' PCs, according to security consultancy Armorize.

Google acknowleged Friday that it had experienced some issues on its DoubleClick network but said it had put a stop to them quickly. "[T]he DoubleClick Ad Exchange, which has automatic malware filters, independently detected several [ads] containing malware, and blocked them instantly -- within seconds," Google spokesman Jay Nancarrow said via email. "Our security team is in touch with Armorize to help investigate and help remove any affected creatives from any other ad platforms."

The Doubleclick and Hotmail ads appear to have been more dangerous, however, in that they attacked computers and installed malicious software, such as the HDD Plus fake system optimization tool. "This time it's different. It's using drive-by downloads," Huang said. "You visit a site and then you see a fake antivirus pop up." It looks like a genuine antivirus message, he said, and is already installed on the victim's computer. ""Even if you reboot, it's already there."

If the cybercriminals were able to get their bad ads on Google's and Microsoft's networks, they'll probably try to do the same thing on other networks too, he said.

Full story here: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9200899/Google_Microsoft_ad_networks_briefly_hit_by_with_malware