Malvertising
Also called malicious ads, scam ads
Online ads that lead to scams or malware, often bought on real platforms and dressed up as trusted brands.
Malvertising uses the advertising systems of search engines and social networks to reach victims. The ad sits in a trusted place, looks like a real brand and is targeted at people already looking for that thing, which makes it more convincing than any email.
AI has supplied a lot of the bait. Fake AI tools, deepfake celebrities recommending investments, and apps that make fake nude images have all been pushed through paid ads. Meta sued one nudify-app maker after it ran more than 87,000 ads that broke its rules, using a network of over 170 business accounts to dodge bans.
Bans don't keep up when new accounts are cheap. The safer habit is to never treat an ad as the way in: go to the company directly.
For example
You search for a popular app, click the top sponsored result, and download a perfect-looking copy that installs malware.
Put it to use
Where you'll meet malvertising in ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude, how to use it there, and the mix-up most people make.
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