Google Search Term Presents Cybersecurity Threat
Investigation into Data Theft Connected to Bengal Cats in Australia
Cybersecurity company SOPHOS has alerted users to a particular Google search phrase, 'Are Bengal cats legal in Australia?', which has resulted in data theft cases.
The New York Post, along with SOPHOS, reports that people searching this phrase may encounter malicious links at the top of their search results, potentially leading to compromised personal data.
These links use Gootloader, a malicious software capable of stealing sensitive information and locking users out of their devices.
This issue predominantly impacts Australian users due to the appearance of malicious links when 'Australia' is included in the search query.
SOPHOS points out that this is part of a wider phenomenon known as 'SEO poisoning,' where cybercriminals enhance the ranking of their harmful websites in search engine results.
Users who suspect they may be affected should change their passwords immediately to reduce the risk.
The New York Post, along with SOPHOS, reports that people searching this phrase may encounter malicious links at the top of their search results, potentially leading to compromised personal data.
These links use Gootloader, a malicious software capable of stealing sensitive information and locking users out of their devices.
This issue predominantly impacts Australian users due to the appearance of malicious links when 'Australia' is included in the search query.
SOPHOS points out that this is part of a wider phenomenon known as 'SEO poisoning,' where cybercriminals enhance the ranking of their harmful websites in search engine results.
Users who suspect they may be affected should change their passwords immediately to reduce the risk.
