Malicious code in lg-mutator-mobile-ads (npm)

The package lg-mutator-mobile-ads was found to contain malicious code...

Why blocking ads is good for your digital health

Online content is largely powered and paid for by advertising. Almost every site you visit, every forum you browse, and even the online stores you buy things from is an advert extravaganza, and they dont just stop at showing cool offers for shirts at 50% off. The scaffolding the adverts sit on go...

Google Play Boots Barcode Scanner App After Ad Explosion

A barcode scanner app, with over 10 million downloads, was booted from the Google Play marketplace after users began to complain of mobile-ad overload. The makers of the app, called Barcode Scanner, intentionally altered the code of the app via an update turning it from a benign app to adware,...

A week in security (June 4 – June 10)

Last week on Labs, we took a look at hidden mobile ads, the perils of social media spam, and how to shore up your landline defenses. We also took a deep dive into Emotet malware analysis, and gave you some summertime safety tips. Other news Update your Adobe Flash player if you haven't already...

Marketing Firms Advertise Largely to Bots; Waste $9.5B

It may not come as a surprise that online advertising firms waste billions of dollars each year, but a new report claims that – even if you were to assume that the entire practice of targeting users with online ads is an effective and lucrative one – $9.5 billion this year will be wasted...