Thursday, May 8, 2025
Homecyber securityMalicious Google Ads Target DeepSeek Users to Spread Malware

Malicious Google Ads Target DeepSeek Users to Spread Malware

Published on

SIEM as a Service

Follow Us on Google News

Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, with malicious actors exploiting popular platforms like Google Ads to spread malware.

Recently, a sophisticated campaign targeting DeepSeek users has been uncovered, highlighting the ongoing risks associated with sponsored search results.

The Threat Landscape

DeepSeek, a rising platform, has become a lure for cybercriminals who are using fake sponsored Google ads to trick unsuspecting users.

- Advertisement - Google News

These ads are designed to mimic legitimate DeepSeek advertisements, making them difficult to distinguish from genuine ones.

Upon clicking the fake ads, users are redirected to a convincing but fake website, which prompts them to download a Trojan programmed in Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL).

Google Ads
 fake ad

This malware is detected by Malwarebytes’ AI module as Malware.AI.1323738514.

The success of these campaigns underscores the challenge Google faces in filtering out malicious ads from its sponsored search results.

Avoiding Malware Traps

To protect against such threats, users are advised to exercise caution when interacting with sponsored search results.

A primary recommendation is to avoid clicking on these ads altogether.

Additionally, users can verify the legitimacy of an advertiser by examining the URL and checking if the listed advertiser matches the brand owner.

According to the Report, Installing an ad-blocker can also help bypass sponsored ads, ensuring users only see organic search results.

Malwarebytes and similar cybersecurity tools play a crucial role in detecting and removing such threats, emphasizing the importance of robust antivirus software in today’s digital landscape.

According to MalwareBytes, this incident is part of a broader trend where cybercriminals exploit popular platforms and services to spread malware.

The use of fake CAPTCHAs in phishing campaigns, such as those targeting Booking.com, further illustrates the sophistication and diversity of modern cyber threats.

As technology advances, so do the tactics of malicious actors, making it essential for users to stay informed and equipped with the latest cybersecurity tools and best practices.

By understanding these risks and taking proactive measures, individuals can significantly reduce their exposure to malware and other cybersecurity threats.

Are you from SOC/DFIR Teams? – Analyse Malware, Phishing Incidents & get live Access with ANY.RUN -> Start Now for Free

Aman Mishra
Aman Mishra
Aman Mishra is a Security and privacy Reporter covering various data breach, cyber crime, malware, & vulnerability.

Latest articles

Top Ransomware Groups Target Financial Sector, 406 Incidents Revealed

Flashpoint analysts have reported that between April 2024 and April 2025, the financial sector...

Agenda Ransomware Group Enhances Tactics with SmokeLoader and NETXLOADER

The Agenda ransomware group, also known as Qilin, has been reported to intensify its...

SpyCloud Analysis Reveals 94% of Fortune 50 Companies Have Employee Data Exposed in Phishing Attacks

SpyCloud, the leading identity threat protection company, today released an analysis of nearly 6...

PoC Tool Released to Detect Servers Affected by Critical Apache Parquet Vulnerability

F5 Labs has released a new proof-of-concept (PoC) tool designed to help organizations detect...

Resilience at Scale

Why Application Security is Non-Negotiable

The resilience of your digital infrastructure directly impacts your ability to scale. And yet, application security remains a critical weak link for most organizations.

Application Security is no longer just a defensive play—it’s the cornerstone of cyber resilience and sustainable growth. In this webinar, Karthik Krishnamoorthy (CTO of Indusface) and Phani Deepak Akella (VP of Marketing – Indusface), will share how AI-powered application security can help organizations build resilience by

Discussion points


Protecting at internet scale using AI and behavioral-based DDoS & bot mitigation.
Autonomously discovering external assets and remediating vulnerabilities within 72 hours, enabling secure, confident scaling.
Ensuring 100% application availability through platforms architected for failure resilience.
Eliminating silos with real-time correlation between attack surface and active threats for rapid, accurate mitigation

More like this

Top Ransomware Groups Target Financial Sector, 406 Incidents Revealed

Flashpoint analysts have reported that between April 2024 and April 2025, the financial sector...

Agenda Ransomware Group Enhances Tactics with SmokeLoader and NETXLOADER

The Agenda ransomware group, also known as Qilin, has been reported to intensify its...

PoC Tool Released to Detect Servers Affected by Critical Apache Parquet Vulnerability

F5 Labs has released a new proof-of-concept (PoC) tool designed to help organizations detect...