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YouTube Policy
Ad Blockers Ad Blocking EU Regulators European Commission European Union Privacy Social Media Youtube YouTube Policy

YouTube Faces Struggle from EU Regulators for Dropping Use of Ad Blockers


Alexander Hanff, a privacy activist is suing the European Commission, claiming that YouTube’s new ad blocker detection violates European law. 

In response to the Hanff’s claims to the European Commission, German Pirate Party MEP asked for a legal position on two key issues: whether this type of detection is "absolutely necessary to provide a service such as YouTube" and whether "protection of information stored on the device (Article 5(3) ePR) also cover information as to whether the user's device hides or blocks certain page elements, or whether ad-blocking software is used on the device."

YouTube’s New Policy 

Recently, YouTube has made it mandatory for users to cease using ad blockers or else they will receive notifications that may potentially prevent them from accessing any material on the platform. The majority of nations will abide by the new regulations, which YouTube claims are intended to increase revenue for creators.

However, the reasons that the company provides are not likely to hold up in Europe. Experts in privacy have noted that YouTube's demand to allow advertisements to run for free users is against EU legislation. Since it can now identify users who have installed ad blockers to avoid seeing advertisements on the site, YouTube has really been accused of spying on its customers.

EU regulators has already warned tech giants like Google and Apple. Now, YouTube is the next platform that could face lengthy legal battles with the authorities as it attempts to defend the methods used to identify these blocks and compel free YouTube viewers to watch advertisements regularly in between videos. Google and other digital behemoths like Apple have previously faced the wrath of EU regulators. Due to YouTube's decision to show adverts for free users, many have uninstalled ad blockers from their browsers as a result of these developments.

According to experts, YouTube along with violating the digital laws, is also violating certain Fundamental consumer rights. Thus, it is likely that the company would have to change its position in the area if the platform is found to be in violation of the law with its anti-ad blocker regulations. This is something that Meta was recently forced to do with Instagram and Facebook.

The social networking giant has further decided on the policy that if its users (Facebook and Instagram) do not want to see ads while browsing the platforms, they will be required to sign up for its monthly subscriptions, where the platforms are free from advertisements.  

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Vulnerabilities and Exploits.
Ad Blocking Artificial Intelligence ChatGPT Data Privacy Google Malvertising Vulnerabilities and Exploits.

Malvertising Gives Cybercriminals Access to Big Technologies

Malvertising has been a more popular tool employed by cybercriminals in recent years to exploit unsuspecting internet users. When people click on an infected ad, malware is transferred to their computers and mobile devices, which is known as malvertising. Sadly, some contend that Big Tech's corporate policies are facilitating hackers' use of malvertising as a means of infiltrating computer systems.

According to columnist Candice Rivera, "Big Tech's business model is dependent on targeted advertising, which means collecting data on users and their interests to serve them ads. However, this also means that ads can be targeted to specific users based on their vulnerabilities." Cybercriminals are taking advantage of this practice by purchasing ad space and using it to spread malware to specific groups of people.

In a recent article on Security Boulevard, the author suggests that one way to defeat malvertising-based phishing attacks is to 'use ad-blocking software, which can prevent ads from being displayed altogether.' While this may be an effective solution, it does not address the root cause of the problem, which is the business practices of Big Tech companies. 

The use of malvertising has become so widespread that even popular search engines like Google have become vulnerable to attacks. As reported by Ars Technica, "Google recently warned users to be cautious when downloading software from its search engine, as some downloads may contain malware." This highlights the need for users to exercise caution when browsing the internet, even when using well-known and trusted search engines.

CSO Online provides recommendations to internet users to protect themselves from malvertising-based attacks. They suggest keeping the software and operating systems updated, using antivirus software, and installing ad-blocking software. Moreover, it is essential to exercise caution while clicking on links or downloading files from unknown websites.  

While malvertising has become a serious threat to internet users, it is important to recognize the role that Big Tech's business practices play in enabling cyber criminals. As users, we must take responsibility for our own online security and take steps to protect ourselves from these types of attacks. 




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Zoom
Ad Blocking Adobe Google Ads GPU malware Phishing Attacks Racoon Stealer Zoom

Cybercriminals Use Google Ads to Deploy Malware

 

Hackers are utilizing the Google Ads service more consistently than ever before to transmit malware. As soon as the victims click the download link on the threat actors' fake versions of the official websites, trojanized software is distributed. 

Grammarly, MSI Afterburner, Slack, Dashlane, Malwarebytes, Audacity, Torrent, OBS, Ring, AnyDesk, Libre Office, Teamviewer, Thunderbird, and Brave are some of the companies impersonated in these operations.

Raccoon Stealer, a modified variant of Vidar Stealer, and the IcedID loader are two examples of malware propagating to victims' systems. As a result, anyone looking for reliable software on a site with no active ad blocker will see commercials first and be more inclined to click on them because they closely resemble the search result.

Threat actors use a method in that phase to get beyond Google's automatic checks. If Google determines that the launch site is malicious, the operation is blocked and the advertisements are withdrawn. The trick, according to Guardio and Trend Micro, is to send users who click on the advertisement to a malicious site imitating the software project from a relevant but innocuous site made by the threat actor.

Vermux, a threat group, was discovered employing a significant number of masquerAds websites and domains, mainly operating out of Russia, to target GPUs and cryptocurrency wallets owned by Americans.

According to the researchers, in October they came across a malvertising operation where hackers, identified as DEV-0569, utilized Google Ads to send consumers to a malicious file download page. Microsoft claimed that it informed Google about the traffic distribution network abuse.

As per Microsoft, the techniques enable the group to reach more people and increase the number of victims. From August through October, Microsoft observed the threat actor distributing the BATLOADER malware using phishing emails that seemed to be genuine installers for various programs, including TeamViewer, Adobe Flash Player, Zoom, and AnyDesk. 

Use the necessary safety protocols such as an ad-blocker on your browser to block these campaigns by prohibiting Google Search sponsored results from appearing. Users should scroll down until they find the desired software project's official domain. Furthermore, a suspicious installer's unusually large file size is a red flag.  
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User Security
Ad Blocking AllBlock Cyber Security Google User Security

Ad-Blocker Developed to Block Ads, Ironically Injects them in Google Search Pages

 

According to the latest research by cybersecurity firm Imperva, a new misleading ad injection campaign has been discovered that uses an ad blocker plugin for Google Chrome and Opera internet browsers to surreptitiously install advertisements and affiliate codes on websites. 

The discoveries came after the researchers had found rogue websites spreading an ad injection script in late August 2021, which they linked to an add-on named AllBlock. Ever since the extension has been removed from the Chrome Web Store and the Opera add-ons markets. 

Though AllBlock is intended to properly prevent advertisements, the JavaScript code is injected into each new window launched in the browser. It operates by recognizing and sending all links in a website page — especially on search engine results pages — to a remote server, that further responds with a list of internet sites to replace the genuine links with, resulting in a type of situation in which the victim is diverted to a separate page upon clicking a link. 

"When the user clicks on any modified links on the webpage, he will be redirected to an affiliate link," Imperva researchers Johann Sillam and Ron Masas said. "Via this affiliate fraud, the attacker earns money when specific actions like registration or sale of the product take place." 

AllBlock is additionally distinguished by several anti-detection measures, such as emptying the debug console every 100ms and barring main search engines. According to Imperva, the AllBlock extension is likely part of a wider distribution effort that may have used additional browser extensions and delivery mechanisms, with links to a prior PBot campaign based on domain name and IP address overlaps. 

"Ad injection is an evolving threat that can impact almost any site. Attackers will use anything from browser extensions to malware and adware installed on visitors' devices, making most site owners ill-equipped to handle such attacks," Sillam and Masas said. 

This example serves as yet another warning of the necessity of selecting the browser extensions properly and installing just those that are required. 

In this situation, AllBlock has received positive customer feedback since its adblocking technology has been correctly implemented. Nevertheless, it raises the danger of deceit and confuses customers.
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