--- title: What is Malvertising? description: Malvertising is not new, but it is being used more and more to deliver malware (things like viruses) to computers. Malvertising uses advertising networks to deliver malicious content. This allows malware perpetrators to have their infections on popular pages like yahoo.com and msn.com. In fact, malvertising has advanced to the point where in many cases your […] --- [Skip to content](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/2016/07/what-is-malvertising#main-content) [Contact us](https://www.inmotionnet.com/contact) ![](https://www.inmotionnet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/InMotionLogoNEW_RGB%20copy.png?width=600&height=350&name=InMotionLogoNEW_RGB%20copy.png) - [Home](https://www.inmotionnet.com/) - [Contact](https://www.inmotionnet.com/contact) - Client Tools Show submenu for Client Tools - [Client Portal](https://na.myconnectwise.net/v4_6_release/services/system_io/CustomerPortal/Portal.html?company=inmotionnets) - [Payment Portal](https://inmtn.connectboosterportal.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://www.inmotionnet.com/) - [Contact](https://www.inmotionnet.com/contact) - Client Tools Show submenu for Client Tools - [Client Portal](https://na.myconnectwise.net/v4_6_release/services/system_io/CustomerPortal/Portal.html?company=inmotionnets) - [Payment Portal](https://inmtn.connectboosterportal.com/) - [Contact us](https://www.inmotionnet.com/contact) Jul 22, 2016 3:28:34 PM # What is Malvertising? ![Picture of Scott Chester](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/1a5006edb386dba40681e9bbff644ff1) [Scott Chester](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/author/scott) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/2016/07/what-is-malvertising) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/2016/07/what-is-malvertising) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/2016/07/what-is-malvertising) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/2016/07/what-is-malvertising) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/2016/07/what-is-malvertising) Malvertising is not new, but it is being used more and more to deliver malware (things like viruses) to computers. Malvertising uses advertising networks to deliver malicious content. This allows malware perpetrators to have their infections on popular pages like yahoo.com and msn.com. In fact, malvertising has advanced to the point where in many cases your computer can get infected simply when you visit a page with malicious advertising. You don’t even have to click on the link! This is called a drive by download. The most common way that attackers are able to gain access to your computer is through out of date software. Vulnerabilities that allow bad guys to gain access to your computer are frequently found in popular software programs like Adobe Flash and Java. Typically as soon as the software makers learn of the weakness they work to resolve the issue and release a patch or update. Unfortunately, from the time the vulnerability is discovered by the bad guys until the time that the software is updated on your computer, you are vulnerable to becoming compromised. Ransomware, where your computer or files are locked and you are forced to pay a ransom to get them back, is also on the rise and frequently used with malvertising to infect victim’s computers. Without a backup, your only option frequently is to pay the ransom or face losing everything on the computer. You’ve likely hear of high profile companies that have been forced to pay ransoms to get their systems back up and running. For a visual explanation, check out this [Malvertising & Ransomware infographic from Malwarebytes](https://www.malwarebytes.com/pdf/infographics/malvertising-and-ransomware.pdf). For more information, you can [read more from Malwarebytes](https://blog.malwarebytes.com/101/2016/06/malvertising-and-ransomware-the-bonnie-and-clyde-of-advanced-threats/). It is imperative that your computer is updated daily. We have invested in tools that check daily to ensure that the latest software is installed on computers we maintain. You likely don’t have this same level of protection on your computer if it isn’t being professionally managed, monitored and maintained. To protect your unmanaged computer (or your home computer) you will need to install updates as soon as your computer prompts you. To make things easier, you might want to utilize [Ninite Updater](https://ninite.com/updater/) to detect third party software on your computer that needs to be updated. You’ll still have to tell it to update, but with a single click it will be able to update multiple applications. [Uncategorized](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/uncategorized) ## Related posts [![](https://www.inmotionnet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/warning-2168379_1280%20(2).png?height=200&name=warning-2168379_1280%20(2).png)](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/watch-out-for-google-searches-malvertising-is-on-the-rise) [cybersecurity](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/cybersecurity), [DigitalSecurity](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/digitalsecurity), [Malvertising](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/malvertising), [OnlineThreats](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/onlinethreats), [Malware](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/malware), [SecurityTips](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/securitytips) ## [Watch Out for Google Searches - "Malvertising" Is on the Rise!](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/watch-out-for-google-searches-malvertising-is-on-the-rise) [Tricia Tolbert](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/author/tricia-tolbert) Dec 9, 2024 4:30:00 AM There are many types of malware. One of the most common is called “malvertising.” It crops up... [Read more](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/watch-out-for-google-searches-malvertising-is-on-the-rise) [![](https://www.inmotionnet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/internet-8418538_1280.png?height=200&name=internet-8418538_1280.png)](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/7-new-and-tricky-types-of-malware-to-watch-out-for) [Cyberthreats](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/cyberthreats), [TechSafety](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/techsafety), [OnlineSafety](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/onlinesafety), [MalwareProtection](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/malwareprotection), [cybersecuritytips](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/cybersecuritytips), [malwareawareness](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/malwareawareness) ## [7 New and Tricky Types Of Malware To Watch Out For](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/7-new-and-tricky-types-of-malware-to-watch-out-for) [Tricia Tolbert](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/author/tricia-tolbert) May 15, 2025 4:30:00 AM Malware is a huge threat in the digital world. It can cause a lot of damage and cost people a lot... [Read more](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/7-new-and-tricky-types-of-malware-to-watch-out-for) [![](https://www.inmotionnet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/mbam_updated.png?height=200&name=mbam_updated.png)](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/2018/01/update-malwarebytes-issue-fixed) [Uncategorized](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/uncategorized) ## [Update: MalwareBytes Issue Fixed](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/2018/01/update-malwarebytes-issue-fixed) ![Picture of Scott Chester](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/1a5006edb386dba40681e9bbff644ff1) [Scott Chester](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/author/scott) Jan 27, 2018 3:23:57 AM It has been widely reported this morning that MalwareBytes was causing an issue blocking legitimate... [Read more](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/2018/01/update-malwarebytes-issue-fixed) [![](https://www.inmotionnet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/InMotionLogoNEW_RGB%20copy.png?width=600&height=350&name=InMotionLogoNEW_RGB%20copy.png)](https://inmotionnet.com) 24930 Washington Ave Unit #157 Murrieta, CA  92564 (951) 894-8809 This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. - [Home](https://www.inmotionnet.com) - [Blog](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog) - [Contact](https://www.inmotionnet.com/contact) - Client Tools - [Client Portal](https://na.myconnectwise.net/v4_6_release/services/system_io/CustomerPortal/Portal.html?company=inmotionnets) - [Payment Portal](https://inmtn.connectboosterportal.com/) - [Privacy](https://www.inmotionnet.com/privacy-policy) - [Terms](https://www.inmotionnet.com/terms-of-service) --- [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/in-motion-networks-corporation/) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/InMotionNet/) [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/inmotionnet/) Copyright © 2026, In Motion Networks Corporation ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Scott Chester", "url" : "https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/author/scott" }, "dateModified" : "2021-12-07T20:40:37.526Z", "datePublished" : "2016-07-22T22:28:34.000Z", "headline" : "What is Malvertising?", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/2016/07/what-is-malvertising", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.inmotionnet.com/hubfs/InMotionLogoNEW_RGB%20copy.png" }, "name" : "In Motion Networks" } } ```