An investigative report reveals that new spyware can slip in unseen through online ads—and there is currently no defense against it. So not only that online ads are intrusive and can infect devices through malware, they can also be used for spying.

  • AnonTwo@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    Are we back in 1995? This should be common knowledge.

    Blocking ads to avoid their malware was the #1 reason to have adblocker.

    • newIdentity@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Actually it’s not really a problem anymore. Browsers have become probably the most secure softwares on your computer.

      0days for browsers are crazy expensive. Unless you’re targeted by state actors you have nothing to worry about.

          • Thann@lemmy.ml
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            1 year ago

            There’s a 0day in chrome rn that let’s a picture take over your comp

            • newIdentity@sh.itjust.works
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              1 year ago

              And there always will be, but for normal people living in a democracy, that’s not a problem since it’s a state trojan

                • newIdentity@sh.itjust.works
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                  1 year ago

                  This is literally about a Trojan that is only sold to governments.

                  I don’t like it and it definitely can be abused, but it’s not as bad as in Mexico

                  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                    1 year ago

                    And we all know that democracies never do anything bad like buy trojans. That is impossible. Look at the great democracy that is America. America has never done a single bad thing since 1776.

            • newIdentity@sh.itjust.works
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              1 year ago

              Then you would now that it’s a state Trojan just like Pegasus and that exactly such a 0 day that is being sold for large amounts of money.

              Edit: actually it doesn’t, but Insanet is a company that sells state Trojans.

              • mihnt@kbin.social
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                1 year ago

                And you’re trusting everything an article says about a virus that says there’s no solution?

                What’s to stop a black hat buying this to steal identities?
                What’s to stop one of the coders from leaking it? Or a black hat leaking it?
                What about someone targeting an incorrect target and by doing so it ends up in the hands of someone more nefarious?

                Hackers and black markets do what they want.
                Can’t afford it? Steal it.

                • newIdentity@sh.itjust.works
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                  1 year ago

                  Actually I hope it gets leaked because that would mean it will gets fixed.

                  Also im pretty against state Trojans and such, but as long as it makes money.

                  And what’s stopping someone from leaking it? It’s not particularly illegal to sell exploits and leaking exploits owned by someone is illegal. Also they won’t sell it for free and browser exploits are really expensive. I talking about at least half a million dollars.

                  There is no solution, because nobody except the ones who made it know how it works and its not public.

                  • mihnt@kbin.social
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                    1 year ago

                    Insanet has developed the means of delivering spyware via online ad networks, turning some targeted ads into Trojan horses.

                    No ads. No trojan.

      • filgas08@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        browsers have become probably the most secure softwares on your computer.

        No, no they did not.