🔍 This 'mashup' word isn't like mocktails at brunch during staycation

Reader, I bet you've caught on to this pop-culture thing we do, like mashing two words together to get a new word.

Brunch. Staycations. Cosplay. Sitcoms… even "ginormous" was so popular that it made the cut for the dictionary!

But here's a mashup that's not so fun: Malvertising.

The name is short for malicious advertising.

Last fall, Malwarebytes found month-to-month, a 42% increase in malvertising in the U.S.

That means users need to be hyper-aware of these aggressive and hazardous online ads.

Cybercriminals use malvertising to download malicious code onto a device.

Once a device is infected, any number of cyberattacks can happen.

Any online search can bring up malvertising…it can look like sponsored content, or it can hide in ads needing to be clicked on.

And unknowingly visiting a website infected by malvertising can contaminate your device in a flash.

It’s not just the everyday user who needs to look out for malvertising; big companies can fall victim just as easily.

Employees at Lowe’s were targeted by a Google ad inviting them to click a link to visit their staff portal.

The link “myloveslife.net” misspelled the Lowe’s name—which should have been “myloweslife.net.”

However, many employees didn’t even know the real portal URL—a big part of the problem.

Clicking the bogus link brought staffers to a phishing page complete with company logos, and since the page looked legit, employees took the bait.

The key takeaway is to ensure that employees are familiar with the authentic URLs for the company’s internal portals.

Malvertising Hygiene

Avoiding malvertising is all about being smart when it comes to online security.

Here are a few to keep in mind the next time an ad calls your name.

Closely check the URL spelling before you click.
Instead of clicking on an ad, type in the known URL yourself.
If you suspect you're on a shady site, immediately close the browser window.
Beware of ads luring you with low prices and urgent actions.
Keep all software patched and updated, including your browser.

We know malvertising isn’t new, but it is getting better and harder to detect. So, keep your cyber-smarts at the ready and always question before you click.

Stay safe,

Your Dicar Networks Team

Many of our readers appreciate the peace they have, knowing they're protected from malware and scams through our CNVA Program (Continuous Network Vulnerability Assessment).

For just $80 a month, you can relax too, knowing that your network is under constant monitoring.

If interested in having true confidence in your network's security, call us at (408) 850-6400 or simply reply to this email with "Assess My Network." (mention that you found us through this email)

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Here’s how we can support your growth:

Strategic IT Insights – Uncover productivity and growth opportunities with our Business IT Diagnostic Worksheet and Project Planning.
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Dicar Networks Offices are located in Morgan Hill, and San Jose, California!

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295 E Dunne Ave #120
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
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