November 20, 2014 | BY Jovi Umawing
When it comes to online threats, these days website ads could be considered a grey area. For the majority of site owners providing free services or content, they’re good to have because they generate revenue from visits and clicks. For normal site visitors, they (we) have learned to gloss over the ads at best. Regardless of where you stand on ads, they’re everywhere, and they may be here to stay for a long time.
What most internet users may not realize is that ads can be used as doors leading to user systems, thanks to how online criminals have exploited them for their malicious purposes. Ads can be easily ignored, no matter how enticingly they flash on your screens. A well-placed ad, however, may spell greater risk for users.
Such is the case of a certain online streaming service catering to sports fans that we found recently. There was one ad directly in the middle of the video and one just above the disappearing progress bar, both completely visible in the middle of the screen. Not only are these annoying, but they make users believe that these ads, which were deliberately made to look like believable prompts, are real.
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