(26) The Independent’s blog site hit by ransomware attack

Link: http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/dec/09/independent-blog-site-ransomware-hackers-viruses

 

 

Summary:

 

The Independent’s blog-hosting site has fallen foul of hackers who are using ads to target visitors with virus software that encrypts files and demands a ransom. A spokesperson for Independent owners ESI Media said that as a precaution all ads have been removed from the site, which is separate from Independent.co.uk. It appears that an advert appearing on that blogsite may have included malware. The malware would only affect users who did not have the most up-to-date version of the Flash software which is used to deliver complex content such as videos, animations and browser based apps. It is not the first time hackers have used ads – which are often served through complex networks of third-party companies – to target visitors to newspaper websites. In October, the BBC reported that visitors to the Mail Online site were “briefly” exposed to ads that linked to malware.

Key data/statistical information:

 

• The malware threat was first highlighted on a blog run by internet security firm Trend Micro, which said people visiting affected pages on Independent Blogs since 21 November could have been exposed to the malware.
• ESI said that visitors to the legacy site amounted to less than 0.2% of those who visited the Independent during the whole month of November.
• Based on the Independent’s most recent published traffic statistics, which cover October, fewer than 5,000 people a day are likely to have visited the site.

What's my view?

 The increased popularity of using ads on websites has given hackers a easy access. Since most sites now have ads, hackers have probably been trying to find ways to get to users as they know that numerous of people visit these websites and click the ads. This act could be just the beginning as the Mail Online claimed to be briefly exposed to malware being linked to the ads on their site.