Phishing takes advantage of Google Search's site redirection feature
A new phishing campaign takes advantage of the ability to easily redirect Google Search web addresses to users.
Users will not doubt when clicking on links with Google domain. Security researchers come across phishing URLs that appear to be trustworthy and point to Google.
However, when analyzing these URLs, it is revealed that hackers have appended the parameters to automatically open HTTP redirection of Google Search. In this way, scammers try to redirect users to fraudulent, malicious websites.
In a recent blog post, Sophos revealed the URL format that appends to Google Search's open redirect parameters:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&url=[redacted]&usg=[redacted]
First, the URL looks reliable because it adds a link to Google. Experts often warn users to beware of suspicious links. But in this case, the user doesn't find anything malicious because the destination address is directed to Google. So users still click and ignore security warnings, and this is a security challenge. A few years ago, crooks also abused open navigation holes in Google Maps.
Taking advantage of Google's redirects to cheat
Security researchers also said Google does not consider open redirects to be a security issue. You may need a few notes below to ensure your safety when using the internet:
Discover more
Online scams smartphones mobile devices Android GoogleShare by
Marvin Fry
Update 20 May 2020
You should read it
- Google adds accessibility apps for people with disabilities
- The features on iOS 14 that Android should learn
- Identify popular online scams so as not to lose money unfairly
- Android devices will be 'stamped' trademarks
- 5 popular and preventive online shopping scams
- The Quiet Details That Make a Sports Betting Platform Feel Reliable
- Instructions on creating toy set images with ChatGPT AI
- How are AI agents changing the journalism industry?
- How to restore the default location of individual folders on Windows 10
- The truth about smartphone photography through clothes: It's just basic science that we don't realize every day
- Learn about the NAVSO P-5239-26 method