What is malvertising? And how to protect yourself against it [Video]

Imagine you’re browsing the web when suddenly your PC slows down, pop-up windows appear, and your personal data is stolen.

Does that sound like something straight out of a cyber-thriller? Well, it’s actually the bitter reality of malvertising. This invisible threat disguises itself behind harmless ads and can cause a lot of damage.

Here’s a quick explanation of what malvertising is, how it works, and what you can do to protect yourself and your devices.

Malvertising (short for malicious advertising) is the use of online ads to spread malware and/or redirect users to malicious sites.

Cybercriminals may place infected ads on legitimate websites, including ones you visit on a daily basis. These ads can infect your device with malware—even if you never click on them.

Related: The best PC antivirus software

Online advertising is complex, consisting of many different entities, processes, and services working together. As a result, there are numerous vulnerabilities that can be exploited …