Gootloader Malware Employs Blackhat SEO Techniques To Attack Victims

The Gootloader malware family employs sophisticated social engineering tactics to infiltrate computers.

By leveraging compromised legitimate WordPress websites, Gootloader’s operators manipulate Google search results to redirect users to a deceptive online message board.

They link the malware to a simulated conversation featuring fictitious users, effectively answering the exact queries victims input into search engines.

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Infection Mechanism and Server Orchestration

The infection process hinges on the interplay between compromised WordPress servers and a central server (referred to as the “mothership”).

This complex architecture dynamically generates pages that appear to provide valid responses to user queries.

Operators modify the site behind the scenes, embedding code that loads content from the mothership.

Security researchers have found that the obfuscation techniques used are so extensive that even site owners may struggle to detect ...