Google, Microsoft Ad Networks Briefly Hit by With Malware

For a brief period this week, cybercriminals managed to infect Google's and Microsoft's online ad networks with malicious advertisements that attacked users' PCs, according to security consultancy Armorize.

Stop to them quickly

Google acknowleged Friday that it had experienced some issues on its DoubleClick network now said it had put a stop to them quickly.

Criminals have slid malicious ads into circulation earlier. Last year, the New York Times was tricked into running a fake ad for the Vonage VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service. It generated fake antivirus warnings that encouraged readers to buy bogus security software.

If the cybercriminals were able to get their bad ads on Google's and Microsoft's networks, they'll probably try to do the same thing on other networks too, he said.

Robert McMillan covers computer security and general research breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Robert on Twitter at @bobmcmillan. Robert's e-mail address is robert_mcmillan@idg.com