• Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
MUST READ

Qantas data breach impacted 5.7 million individuals

 | 

DoNot APT is expanding scope targeting European foreign ministries

 | 

Nippon Steel Solutions suffered a data breach following a zero-day attack

 | 

Iranian group Pay2Key.I2P ramps Up ransomware attacks against Israel and US with incentives for affiliates

 | 

Hackers weaponize Shellter red teaming tool to spread infostealers

 | 

Microsoft Patch Tuesday security updates for July 2025 fixed a zero-day

 | 

Italian police arrested a Chinese national suspected of cyberespionage on a U.S. warrant

 | 

U.S. CISA adds MRLG, PHPMailer, Rails Ruby on Rails, and Synacor Zimbra Collaboration Suite flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

IT Worker arrested for selling access in $100M PIX cyber heist

 | 

New Batavia spyware targets Russian industrial enterprises

 | 

Taiwan flags security risks in popular Chinese apps after official probe

 | 

U.S. CISA adds Google Chromium V8 flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

Hunters International ransomware gang shuts down and offers free decryption keys to all victims

 | 

SECURITY AFFAIRS MALWARE NEWSLETTER ROUND 52

 | 

Security Affairs newsletter Round 531 by Pierluigi Paganini – INTERNATIONAL EDITION

 | 

North Korea-linked threat actors spread macOS NimDoor malware via fake Zoom updates

 | 

Critical Sudo bugs expose major Linux distros to local Root exploits

 | 

Google fined $314M for misusing idle Android users' data

 | 

A flaw in Catwatchful spyware exposed logins of +62,000 users

 | 

China-linked group Houken hit French organizations using zero-days

 | 
  • Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
  • Home
  • Breaking News
  • Cyber Crime
  • Hacking
  • Malware
  • Security
  • Crooks target DeepSeek users with fake sponsored Google ads to deliver malware

Crooks target DeepSeek users with fake sponsored Google ads to deliver malware

Pierluigi Paganini March 27, 2025

Cybercriminals are exploiting the popularity of DeepSeek by using fake sponsored Google ads to distribute malware.

While DeepSeek is rising in popularity, threat actors are attempting to exploit it by using fake sponsored Google ads to distribute malware, Malwarebytes researchers warn.

Crooks are using DeepSeek as a lure to trap unsuspecting Google searchers.

“Unfortunately, we are getting so used to sponsored Google search results being abused by criminals that we advise people not to click on them.” reads the alert published by Malwarebytes. “So, it was to be expected that DeepSeek would show up in our monitoring of fake Google ads.”

Deepseek fake Google ads

The researchers observed that cybercriminals created a convincing fake DeepSeek website linked to malicious Google ads. Clicking the download button delivers an MSIL-based Trojan, detected as Malware.AI.1323738514.

Deepseek fake Google ads

Crooks can bypass Google controls that prevent fake ads, outbidding legitimate brands and rank higher in sponsored search results.

The researchers recommend avoiding clicking on sponsored search results and always verifying the advertiser by checking the details behind the URL to ensure it’s the legitimate brand owner.

The researchers also observed other fake sponsored Google ads written in different languages, such as Hebrew.

“If you don’t want to see sponsored ads at all then it’s worth considering installing an ad-blocker that will make sure you go straight to the regular search results.” concludes the alert.

In January, Italy’s Data Protection Authority Garante asked the AI firm DeepSeek to clarify its data collection, sources, purposes, legal basis, and storage, citing potential risks to user data.

The Chinese company’s app was removed from the iPhone App Store and Google Play Store in Italy, where it was the most downloaded free app. The removal’s cause is still unclear, but it may be a defensive action following scrutiny from the Data Protection Authority.

In February, Texas Governor Greg Abbott banned Chinese AI company DeepSeek and Chinese-owned social media apps Xiaohongshu (RedNote) and Lemon8 from all state-issued devices.

AI-powered chatbot, recently launched globally, has rapidly gained popularity reaching millions of users.

Texas is the first state to implement such a ban on these apps. Texas and other states banned TikTok on government devices.

Follow me on Twitter: @securityaffairs and Facebook and Mastodon

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Deepseek)


facebook linkedin twitter

Cybercrime DeepSeek Google Ads Hacking hacking news information security news IT Information Security malware Pierluigi Paganini Security Affairs Security News

you might also like

Pierluigi Paganini July 10, 2025
Qantas data breach impacted 5.7 million individuals
Read more
Pierluigi Paganini July 10, 2025
DoNot APT is expanding scope targeting European foreign ministries
Read more

leave a comment

newsletter

Subscribe to my email list and stay
up-to-date!

    recent articles

    Qantas data breach impacted 5.7 million individuals

    Data Breach / July 10, 2025

    DoNot APT is expanding scope targeting European foreign ministries

    APT / July 10, 2025

    Nippon Steel Solutions suffered a data breach following a zero-day attack

    Data Breach / July 09, 2025

    Iranian group Pay2Key.I2P ramps Up ransomware attacks against Israel and US with incentives for affiliates

    Malware / July 09, 2025

    Hackers weaponize Shellter red teaming tool to spread infostealers

    Malware / July 09, 2025

    To contact me write an email to:

    Pierluigi Paganini :
    pierluigi.paganini@securityaffairs.co

    LEARN MORE

    QUICK LINKS

    • Home
    • Cyber Crime
    • Cyber warfare
    • APT
    • Data Breach
    • Deep Web
    • Digital ID
    • Hacking
    • Hacktivism
    • Intelligence
    • Internet of Things
    • Laws and regulations
    • Malware
    • Mobile
    • Reports
    • Security
    • Social Networks
    • Terrorism
    • ICS-SCADA
    • POLICIES
    • Contact me

    Copyright@securityaffairs 2024

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT