Almost as soon as Steve Jobs launched his new baby, the Apple (NSDQ:AAPL) tablet computer, Black Hat SEO poisoning attacks had been launched, according to security researchers at Websense (NDSQ:WBSN).
The news of the release is being exploited by hackers who are launching their own Phishing Web sites and launching SEO attacks that place their sites on the new, but popular search terms on Google and Bing.
A rouge anti-virus application that is phony, with a 30% detection rate is gaining impetus by impersonating sites offering product information on the Apple Tablet computer. The AV application reports non-existent infections after the file is installed and floods the user with constant pop up prompts. If the user accepts the offer of getting a clean system they then enter their credit card information to pay for the service.
That is when the cyber criminal walks away with their victims’ details that also can include personal identification data.
The terms “Apple”, “tablet” and “iPad” have been bombarded since Wednesday and the trend should continue over the coming months, giving way to plenty of others to jump on the bandwagon as the cyber criminals. Users mistake high page rank for legitimacy and are therefore susceptible to being conned. Scammers know no morality with the recent Haiti disaster also target of Black Hat SEO Phishing scams.
