Google Alerts Become New Place For Malware, Phishing And Scam Sites

[masulum]

Are you using Google Alerts to get new update news or article? If yes, please be careful. After Google Calendar and Google Docs case a few months ago, another Google Service becomes a new place for Malware, Phishing and Scam websites.

Google Alerts is using keywords and convert that keywords results to RSS and sent it to user. And a user who doesn't know about how safe websites from that results can become a victim of malware, phishing or scam websites.

So be careful, and make sure double check URL address of websites on that results before you are clicking it.

Image source: Bleeping Computer

Read full article here: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/beware-of-google-alert-links-leading-to-malware-and-scams/ and follow instructions how to get best results. (But I'am not guarantee if this way can be fully safe for you).

DYOR/DWYOR if you still want to use this service.

[1713960481]

1713960481

[1713960481]

1713960481

[1713960481]

1713960481

[1713960481]

1713960481

[Juggy777]

Are you using Google Alerts to get new update news or article? If yes, please be careful. After Google Calendar and Google Docs case a few months ago, another Google Service becomes a new place for Malware, Phishing and Scam websites.

Google Alerts is using keywords and convert that keywords results to RSS and sent it to user. And a user who doesn't know about how safe websites from that results can become a victim of malware, phishing or scam websites.

So be careful, and make sure double check URL address of websites on that results before you are clicking it.

Image source: Bleeping Computer

Read full article here: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/beware-of-google-alert-links-leading-to-malware-and-scams/ and follow instructions how to get best results. (But I'am not guarantee if this way can be fully safe for you).

DYOR/DWYOR if you still want to use this service.

@masulum these hacks are not only limited to google alerts, as many times you’ll find fake sites on front page of google too. It is very easy to rank fake sites on google, hence they’re able to do it and by the time google realises it the damage is done. Hence one needs to verify the site manually by taking a close look at the url, design and check for ssl, https and if you find anything suspicious avoid the site.

[masulum]

@masulum these hacks are not only limited to google alerts, as many times you’ll find fake sites on front page of google too. It is very easy to rank fake sites on google, hence they’re able to do it and by the time google realises it the damage is done. Hence one needs to verify the site manually by taking a close look at the url, design and check for ssl, https and if you find anything suspicious avoid the site.

Yup, I know that. But, this google alerts is usually used for something new by Google users may be for content purpose that need to be fast for updates such as an online news portal, tutorial blogs etc. If users not aware about his alerts he create, he will be a victim. If he was aware about search results before, maybe he not aware about Google Alerts results because he thinks he was doing right.

[hugeblack]

I think it's time for governments to look seriously at what Google's results are and to make research on the psychological effects of searches.
A lot of people trust the information, just because it is on the first page of Google or sent by Google and therefore they do not already know how that site works.
Besides, they must create some quiesces that must be solved before you can set up an email.

These warnings should not be limited to Google Alerts, but you should be careful with all the information and verify them before taking anything.

Also, news for such attacks focuses on attracting visits rather than on how to protect them against Malware, Phishing And Scam Sites.

[Harlot]

Adding browser extensions about malware and phishing protection can do the trick if the user barely has any understanding on browsing risky websites this is the way to go. It's free and there is no harm in trying. However extensions cannot do everything and some of these qebsites can still slip through the cracks still the best way is for users itself have a wide understanding and awareness on what sutes are safe to go through and what files are safe to be downloaded, a lot of people are always just search and click and don't go further into detail that is why they always fell victim to this kinds of websites.

[LTU_btc]

I haven't heard about Google Alerts and I never used it. As I understand, this thing is automated and aren't moderated and it opens room for abuse. And it already become worrying trend with Google products. It's pretty much same like infected and dcam apps on Google Play store, scams on Google ads, your mentioned phishing attacks in Google Docs and Calendar. The problem is that people blindly believe that everything what find on Goigle products is legit and it gives great opportunity for people with bad intentions to reach huge number of victims.

[LeGaulois]

I haven't heard about Google Alerts and I never used it. As I understand, this thing is automated and aren't moderated and it opens room for abuse. And it already become worrying trend with Google products. It's pretty much same like infected and dcam apps on Google Play store, scams on Google ads, your mentioned phishing attacks in Google Docs and Calendar. The problem is that people blindly believe that everything what find on Goigle products is legit and it gives great opportunity for people with bad intentions to reach huge number of victims.

It doesn't really work like this. It's like if you use Google Search, type a keyword and GG displays to you the results. It's the same with GG Alerts but you get the results via email or RSS. When a new page with your keyword is indexed by GG, it will be shown in your RSS.
But users don't have to click blindly on links like they do with GG Search, etc.

It's a great tool for people still using RSS or companies monitoring their brand, etc. It exists for years, Youtube wasn't even born yet
I used Yahoo Pipes before, it was one of the best tools, too bad they closed it when Yahoo! was sold

[masulum]

The problem is that people blindly believe that everything what find on Goigle products is legit and it gives great opportunity for people with bad intentions to reach huge number of victims.

This is really true, people just clicking topic result from keywords, mostly just seeing title. This is the big problem for Google user and another search engine services. Just clicking what he/she look at the first (6 pages) on search results.

If so, then you have to do your part of the job and tell everyone you know that Google is not safe, don't use it and look for a better alternative.

I don't say if Google not safe, just want to warn people to be careful. I am Google Alerts user too.

Why Google, case was finding on Google Alerts, so i warn google users. Of course if the first case finding on Yahoo! I will warn Yahoo! users. But AFAIK, Yahoo! don't have service like this.

[khaled0111]

I don't say if Google not safe, just want to warn people to be careful. I am Google Alerts user too.

believe me when I say it is not safe. I am a casual user of Google Research, every time I research something, the first result I get is an advertisement for a website that has nothing to do with what I am looking for.

[stompix]

I think it's time for governments to look seriously at what Google's results are and to make research on the psychological effects of searches.
A lot of people trust the information, just because it is on the first page of Google or sent by Google and therefore they do not already know how that site works.

So, you're saying the government should get involved in what the best results should be?
I wonder how that will work when you search for stuff like "Russian Brides" "flath earth" and "striptease near trump hotel"
No, that i going to create more problems and possible worse....

But users don't have to click blindly on links like they do with GG Search, etc.
It's a great tool for people still using RSS or companies monitoring their brand, etc. It exists for years, Youtube wasn't even born yet
I used Yahoo Pipes before, it was one of the best tools, too bad they closed it when Yahoo! was sold

And I don't think they do.
Google alerts is not something your average happy clicker will use, probably 99% of the people that would fall for send your money to get free money scams will never have it up and running. I can see it being used for phishing or targeting specifical companies or people but not scams at a large scale.

Also, just because the website shows there it doesn't mean it was created specifically for google alerts.