Hackers have been using Google Alerts to promote a fraudulent Flash Player updater that installs other unwanted programs on their computers. (Originally appeared on Flickr by brionv/CC BY 2.0)

Taking advantage of users who may not realize support for Adobe Flash Player expired on Dec. 31, hackers have been using Google Alerts to promote a fraudulent Flash Player updater that installs other unwanted programs on their computers.

The threat actors create fake stories with titles containing popular keywords that Google Search indexes, according to a Sunday Bleeping Computer report. Once indexed, Google Alerts then notifies people who follow those keywords. When visiting the fake stories using a Google redirect link, the visitor lands on the threat actor's malicious site.

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Topics:

Breach Phishing Security awareness