Beware of Facebook and Google Ads

The internet is still very much the wild west. For years we’ve warned clients to be cautious about clicking on ads in emails or on news websites because you never really know who is behind them or where they’ll take you. That same caution now applies to ads on major platforms like Facebook and Google.

According to Cyber Security News, cybercriminals are baiting users with offers that sound too good to pass up—things like “1 Year Free Premium Investing Tools” or other enticing subscriptions. An unsuspecting person clicks, and in the background a trojan quietly installs itself.

This isn’t just any ordinary piece of malware. Once inside, it immediately tries to steal financial information while also disabling Microsoft Defender, your system’s built-in security. The most troubling part is its persistence: even if you manage to delete it, the malware is designed to reinstall itself, keeping your system compromised.

The safest approach is to simply avoid clicking on ads altogether. If an offer looks appealing, open your browser and visit the company’s official website to see if it’s real. You can also add an extra layer of protection by using tools like uBlock Origin Lite, which helps block malicious ads before they even appear. By staying cautious and proactive, you make it far less likely that one careless click will turn into a serious security problem.