Hackers leave child abuse images on adult sites to spread malware
The UK's Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has reported a rise in hacks where users watching adult content are redirected to another site hosting the images, potentially as a way to distribute malware.
The process involves attackers exploiting a vulnerable site - in one case, that of a legitimate furniture company - and uploading a file of child abuse images. That file isn't visible to the site's regular visitors or anyone else without the direct URL. They then go on to plant that link on porn sites, meaning anyone who clicks through will be redirected to the illegal content, infecting their PCs with malware in the process.
IWF technical researcher Sarah Smith said the organisation was still working out the precise details of the hack, but speculated that attackers might be making use of an automated system to identify vulnerable sites, uploading the file, then using a traffic-exchange service to plant the link on porn sites.
