Google smashes malvertising attack plaguing AdSense program

googleWashington, Jan 16 - Google has reportedly fixed a widespread malicious advertising attack that directed internet users to unreliable sites hawking weight loss and skin care products.

A senior malware researcher with Sucuri, a Delware-based security company, said that the malicious ads were delivered to website owners signed up with Google's AdSense program, On being displayed, the ads automatically redirected an internet surfer to bogus websites, reported PC World.

These dodgy websites were designed to resemble legitimate magazines like, Forbes and Good Housekeeping, and featured spammy offerings for anti-aging and brain-enhancing products, among others.

The attacks have persisted since mid-December and increased last Friday before Google apparently fixed the malware by discarding the malicious advertisements over the weekend.

The problem has given rise to a number of questions and comments on Google's AdSense help forum.

The type of attack, called malvertising, has been plaguing online advertising companies for long. (ANI)