Malicious code hidden in advert images cost ad networks $1.13bn this year

So-called steganography is rapidly becoming a favored tool of fraudsters.
 
November 16th, 2018,  By Charlie Osborne
 
Malvertising, the practice of embedding malicious code in seemingly innocent online adverts, is evolving through the use of steganography.
 
Files, messages, images, and video can be hidden within content of the same format, potentially leading to malicious redirects and the download of exploit kits.
 
The steganographic technique is fast becoming a popular method for fraudsters to dupe legitimate ad networks and spread malvertising across legitimate domains, according to researchers from GeoEdge, with a recent string of incidents highlighting the method's capabilities.
 
Malvertising incidents utilizing steganography were first recorded this year. Since the emergence of the first cases, records have been "growing exponentially in Q4 2018," the team says.
 
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