Cybersecurity researchers have revealed a new malvertising campaign targeting Microsoft advertisers via deceptive Google ads that lead to phishing pages. These malicious ads appear in Google Search results when users search for terms like “Microsoft Ads,” hoping to trick them into clicking a link that leads to a fraudulent login page. Once on the fake Microsoft Ads site, attackers can steal users’ login credentials and two-factor authentication (2FA) codes, potentially hijacking their accounts. The campaign uses sophisticated techniques to evade detection, including redirecting traffic from VPNs and using Cloudflare challenges to block bot traffic.
The phishing attack follows a previous campaign targeting Google Ads users, showing that cybercriminals are increasingly relying on sponsored ads to lure victims into fake websites.
If a user clicks on the malicious ad, they are taken to a site designed to resemble the legitimate Microsoft Ads portal. To make matters worse, attackers have set up a trick where users attempting to directly visit the legitimate website are rerouted to a YouTube video, reducing the chances of detection. The goal is to collect sensitive login data, which can then be used to compromise users’ accounts and access private information.
This ongoing campaign has been active for several years, with most phishing domains either hosted in Brazil or using the “.com.br” Brazilian top-level domain. Security experts suggest that the threat actors behind this campaign may also be targeting other advertising platforms like Meta. Google, in response to such attacks, has enforced stricter measures against deceptive ads, suspending advertisers found guilty of using fraudulent tactics to steal information. Despite these efforts, cybercriminals continue to adapt and evolve their methods.
This attack is part of a broader trend in which cybercriminals are exploiting users’ trust in popular platforms to carry out social engineering campaigns. Both Microsoft and Google are working to implement better defenses, but users must remain vigilant. To prevent falling victim to phishing attempts, individuals and organizations must ensure they follow best practices for securing online accounts, such as enabling multi-factor authentication and avoiding suspicious links.