SEO (search engine optimization) poisoning is a malicious technique employed by cyber threat actors to manipulate search engine rankings and lure unsuspecting users to harmful websites. By leveraging negative SEO tactics, attackers divert users to fraudulent sites, risking the loss of sensitive data or downloading malware.
How it Works
SEO poisoning takes advantage of search engine algorithms and website vulnerabilities. The primary strategy involves:
- Utilizing trending search terms to bring users to pages embedded with harmful codes.
- Exploiting vulnerabilities of high-ranking sites to distribute malicious content.
Negative SEO: The Deceptive Practice
Negative SEO is used to deceive search engines of malicious intentions, including:
- Tarnishing the reputation of legitimate sites.
- Installing malware on users’ devices.
- Stealing personal information.
Common Techniques Employed
- Keyword Stuffing: Loading web pages with keywords repetitively to trick search engines into thinking the content is relevant.
- Typosquatting: Benefitting from user typos to divert them to look-alike but harmful sites. For example, typing “homesnese.com” instead of “homesense.com.”
- Cloaking: Showing different content to search engine crawlers than to human visitors.
- Private Link Networks: Building unrelated sites solely for boosting malicious site rankings.
- Article Spinning: Copying and slightly altering content from other sites to deceive search engines.
- Sneaky Redirects: Sending users to an unintended site or page without their consent.
Dangers of SEO Poisoning
For Organizations:
- Data Loss: Visiting poisoned sites can compromise network security, granting attackers unauthorized access to sensitive data.
- Malware Propagation: Malware from one infected site can spread across a network, leading to potential ransomware attacks.
- Poor Search Rankings: As harmful sites ascend in rankings, legitimate sites may suffer.
- Harmful Backlinks: Backlinking to trustworthy domains may damage their reputation and search ranking.
- Reputation Damage: Associations with harmful sites can tarnish brand legitimacy.
Identifying SEO Poisoned Sites
Recognizing an SEO-poisoned site is essential, signs include:
- Abundant and unexpected pop-ups.
- Unauthorized redirects.
- Unusual backlinks.
- The sudden ranking or traffic changes.
- Deindexed or blocked web pages.
Healthcare: A Prime Target
The Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) recently highlighted the misuse of SEO poisoning targeting healthcare networks. While phishing remains a prominent threat, attackers are increasingly relying on SEO poisoning to initiate contact over the internet.
By targeting specific search terms used by healthcare employees and using tactics like typosquatting, malicious actors can deceive users into believing they are interacting with a legitimate site. Such techniques have been employed to imitate healthcare organization domains and mislead employees.
Ensuring Safety
Security training programs, while focusing primarily on phishing, should also educate employees about other risks, including SEO poisoning. Implementing technical measures such as web filters can block access to known malicious sites. Additionally, HC3 recommends digital risk monitoring tools to detect typosquatting by scanning for domain names similar to established brands or names.
Conclusion
In the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, it is imperative for organizations, especially those in the healthcare sector, to understand the risks posed by SEO poisoning. With awareness and proactive measures, the potential threats can be significantly minimized, ensuring the safety and integrity of both user data and organizational infrastructure. There are a plethora of search analytics tools available that can monitor the site’s search performance, identify harmful backlinks, and detect cloaking. Utilizing these tools can provide a deeper insight into your website’s health and any potential threats.
