Heads up, internet explorers!
A new cyber threat is prowling the web, and it's got an unusual target: fans of Bengal cats.
SOPHOS - a leading cybersecurity firm - has just flagged a bizarre but serious cyber attack that's luring unsuspecting netizens with a seemingly innocent Google query.
As reported by the New York Post, the alarm has been sounded over the search phrase "Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?"
According to SOPHOS, Googling this query could lead you down a very dangerous cyber rabbit hole.
It seems that some top search results are not what they appear to be; instead of harmless cat facts, users are finding themselves caught in a trap laid by savvy cyber thieves.
These fraudsters have cooked up a devious method called "SEO poisoning", a deceptive technique in which they manipulate search engine results to push their dodgy websites higher up the list.
The Daily Mail describes this technique as an “insidious technique in which criminals manipulate search engine results to push websites they control to the top of the page."
By appearing legitimate, these links bait users into clicking, only to unleash a malware called Gootloader that can swipe personal data faster than a cat pounces on a mouse.
Once the malware is activated, it's not just your cat curiosity that's compromised. Personal information - such as bank details - can be stolen, and users might even find themselves locked out of their own computers.
The cybersecurity firm writes: "GootLoader is one of a number of continuing malware-delivery-as-a-service operations that heavily leverage search results as a means to reach victims.
"The use of search engine optimization, and abuse of search engine advertising to lure targets to download malware loaders and dropper, are not new — GootLoader has been doing this since at least 2020, and we’ve observed Raccoon Stealer and other malware-as-a-service operations doing the same for just as long."
Currently, this threat seems to lurk only in search results that include the word “Australia,” putting Aussie Bengal cat enthusiasts at the forefront of potential victims.
SOPHOS's warning underscores a chilling truth: nowadays, you don't need to be dabbling in the internet's dark web in order to face significant risks. Sometimes, just a simple query about the legality of a pet can endanger your digital safety.
They state: "Users should still look out for search results and search advertisements that seem too good to be true on domains that are off the beaten path — whether they’re looking to get a Bengal Cat or not."
SOPHOS is urging anyone who thinks they might have clicked on these sketchy links to change their passwords immediately.
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