How do cybercriminals use SEO to attack?

Each year brings a new high in cyberattacks and data breaches, keeping cybersecurity firms busy as they adapt to counteract growing threats better. The evolution of technology necessitates that hackers continually devise novel methods of exploiting vulnerabilities for financial benefit. It’s estimated that between three and eight billion people use Google daily, so there’s a massive pool of easy targets. Clicking on the first few links in a search results list is common practice since we naturally assume them to be the most reliable resources. The issue arises when trying to trust and rank search engine results. And most crucially, is it possible to influence the outcomes? The sad truth is that the latter question must be answered with an emphatic yes.

What is SEO poisoning?

SEO poisoning refers to the unethical and unlawful practices that hackers employ to utilize search engine optimization. SEO poisoning is a growing tactic used by cybercriminals to lead people to compromised websites, where they can steal information, coerce victims into downloading malware, or otherwise influence them for harmful purposes.

How do cyberattacks affect SEO?

Let’s examine the devastating effects of cyberattacks on businesses, which can have an impact on both their reputation and their search engine rankings:

SEO spam attacks

Hackers will use your site for what is known as SEO spam if your security measures are inadequate. They can utilize your site’s flaws to spam it with links to malicious sites and keywords that lead to them. When websites fall prey to SEO spam, they can see a steep drop in search engine rankings. Because of Google’s punishment and potential browser security warnings, your site’s organic traffic will suffer severely.

Browser blacklisting attacks

The main objective of a hacker employing browser blacklisting is to insert a page with different codes onto your site. JavaScript, Hypertext markup language, and PHP are all used to compromise your website. They are created to trick visitors into visiting malicious domains either with an internal link or a pop-up digital ad. In this case, Google may decide to ban the site’s owner. It will immediately add your website to a blacklist to safeguard users from cyberattacks.

Bad site reviews

Reviews on websites, both good and bad, play a significant role in influencing people’s purchases. In today’s world, where word of mouth has such a powerful influence, businesses must actively seek out and secure positive internet evaluations.

Crawling errors

Search engines use different bots for crawling, ranking, indexing, and other tasks. Therefore, you should expect a certain amount of crawl activity on your website. As technology has progressed, some bots have become harmful programs that cause disruptions in online activity.

Protecting your website from SEO cyber attacks

Regardless of your perspective, cyber security breaches are detrimental to company success. Hacks and breaches must be avoided at all costs. The first step is to look for flaws that hackers could exploit. You can further ensure the safety of your customer’s personal information by installing an SSL certificate, which will encrypt all data on your website. Naturally, performing all this on your own is challenging, especially if you lack experience. Cactus Media Group, a professional digital marketing company located in Vancouver, can assist you in protecting your website by providing security solutions that will lessen the likelihood of a breach in your organization. If you want to be sure your website is secure from hackers, our specialists can analyze your environment and create a plan just for you.