Google seems harmless, but what you search on Google can actually put you at risk of becoming a victim of a hacker.

Cybersecurity experts have revealed common words and phrases you should never Google if you want to avoid getting hacked.

This comes after cyber security company Sophos issued an urgent warning on its website asking people not to enter six words into search engines: “Are Bengal cats legal in Australia?“

Jake Moore, Global Cyber ​​Security Advisor at ESET, explained the Daily Mail that a technique called “SEO poisoning” allows cybercriminals to use Google search results to trick unwitting victims into clicking on websites they control in an attempt to weaken computer security.

“SEO poisoning is a tactic used by cybercriminals to manipulate search engine results and then direct users to malicious websites that often appear genuine,” he said.

“When users click on these links, they are directed to sites that expose them to malware that often downloads immediately, which can compromise computer security and lead to data theft or device infections”

Here are five words and phrases you should avoid typing into Google to avoid the risk of being hacked:

Customer service numbers

Doing a quick Google search is an easy way to find a company’s customer service phone number, but scammers will often buy ads to appear at the top of search results to fool unsuspecting people.

These scammers will provide deceptive links and phone numbers that ultimately connect the user to them rather than the company they are trying to reach.

“I get these calls, sometimes hundreds a day, and they convincingly impersonate a technician,” Ben Van Pelt, founder of the cybersecurity company TorGuardhe explained to her Indy100.

To avoid this, experts suggest skipping the ads and going directly to the company’s website to get their contact information.

Searches to make money

Scammers will exploit people who are in financial difficulty and are looking for “easy loans” with false advertisements for simple and immediate loans.

“Instead of turning to Google for financial help, look for financial services from reputable banks and lenders,” Van Pelt advised.

In the same vein, looking for “quick win schemes” that often promise “investment opportunities” will usually lead to a pyramid scheme.

“Avoid getting caught up in pyramid schemes. For investment opportunities, always consult a reputable investment broker or financial advisor,” he said.

Searching for “high paying remote jobs” and “free credit reports” is also risky.

“When looking for a job, stick to well-known job sites and official career pages of reputable companies to minimize the risk of encountering scammers,” Van Pelt said.

Google Authenticator

Some cybercriminals will try to imitate the real products. In June, cybersecurity researchers at Malwarebytes said scammers were targeting users who were looking for the Google Authenticator app.

The app requires the user to sign in to secure services and provide two-factor authentication, but Malwarebytes found that hackers bought ads to promote what appeared to be a legitimate link to the app.

However, in these fake links, the person who clicks “download” ends up installing malware designed to rob a device of personal data.

“The core problem with impersonation comes from ads appearing as if they are from official sources and advertiser identities verified by Google,” Malwarebytes’ Jérôme Segura wrote in a blog post.

“We must note that Google Authenticator is a well-known and trusted multi-factor authentication tool, so there is some irony that potential victims are being compromised while trying to improve their security posture.”

Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire

Cybercriminals are also known to target specific individuals and groups of people.

Researchers from Menlo Security were investigating a malware campaign called SolarMarker when they discovered that the highly specific phrase “Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire” was one that had been compromised.

The search led to links to PDFs that are automatically downloaded to your computer with downloaded viruses hidden in the pages.

“It’s often hard to detect (SEO poisoning), but it will usually be used specifically for people who use Google to search for documents and PDFs rather than websites,” Moore explained. “Unresolved links will be embedded so they will automatically download without your knowledge.”

If something is downloading, he advises against clicking on the file. Rather, remove it and run an antivirus scan “for peace of mind”.

viagra online

Cybersecurity experts warn to be careful when looking for Viagra or similar products online to avoid falling victim to the “pharma hack”.

This hack involves crooks breaking into vulnerable WordPress websites and placing links to fake pages that advertise knock-off versions of branded pharmaceuticals.

“By doing this, people really believe they are clicking on a legitimate website that sells legal pharmaceuticals.” explained the researchers at SolidWP.

Once someone has been brought to the site, scammers can trick them into providing personal information and even sell them fake pharmaceuticals that could be harmful to their health.