Malvertising

Malvertising, short for malicious advertising, involves the use of legitimate online ads to distribute harmful software or malware. Cybercriminals embed malicious code into ads displayed on reputable websites, and when users click or sometimes just view these ads, their computers can become infected. This tactic exploits the trust users place in well-known sites and ad networks, making it a covert way for hackers to spread viruses, steal data, or gain unauthorized access to devices. Malvertising is difficult to detect because the ads appear normal but can have serious security risks behind the scenes.