The FBI’s internet complaints division has issued a public service announcement advising people to use ad blockers as a defense against online scams. The agency recommends ad-blocking extensions as a way to protect users from fraudulent ads that resemble authentic messages from legitimate businesses and brands. Cybercriminals create these false ads, which sometimes appear at the top of search result pages, and they often contain links to fake websites or malware downloads that seek to steal users’ login information or financial data.
The FBI’s suggestion to use ad blockers, which eliminate or hide material labeled as advertisements on websites, could be viewed as an approval of a controversial tool that numerous internet publishers, including news websites, do not encourage visitors to employ. This warning highlights the progressively perilous terrain of online advertising. Online ad sellers like Google and Microsoft are in a constant struggle with cybercriminals who strive to generate countless accounts to evade their security systems when purchasing ads.
Online ad vendors use ad verification and certification policies to detect and prevent scams. However, despite their efforts, some fraudulent ads are still managing to slip through their filters. Malwarebytes researchers discovered counterfeit search ads in July that imitated popular websites like YouTube, Amazon, and Facebook. Google also removed ads that impersonated customer support accounts of internet service providers BT and Sky earlier in the year.
The National Security Agency (NSA), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), FBI, and other US security agencies are reportedly using network-based ad-blocking technologies, as per a letter shared with tech news site Motherboard. This rang with the FBI’s recommendation of ad-blockers. The FBI also provides additional online safety suggestions, which are consistent with Trading Standards in the UK. These include ensuring the validity of an ad by verifying the URL for typos and errors and locating businesses and financial institutions by inputting their complete website address.
