(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Exploiting the eighth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, cybercriminals are using search engine optimization tactics to dupe Internet users seeking news about the terror attacks in the US, according to Trend Micro’s malware blog.
The malware writers are using search-optimized websites filled with 9/11 search terms to direct users searching for news on September 11 to malicious websites that lead to the rogue antivirus malware, FakeAV.
Trend Micro reported on Thursday that “TROJ_FAKEAV.BOH may arrive on the system as Scanner-7c545a_2031.exe from several malicious websites that can all be found in the poisoned Google search results”.
The Trojan malware alerts unsupecting visitors with disclaimers that their computer is infected with viruses, tricking them into purchasing fake antivirus products that leave their computers open for attacks.
According to Google Trends, more than a third of the top 100 searches currently relate to the attacks and their aftermath.
Over the years it has become a common trend for cybercriminals to release new malware and spam attacks around holidays and anniversaries.
