US Senate report says online advertising poses security risks

The Federal Trade Commission should be tasked with enforcing security protocols to protect Internet users from security threats posed by online advertising, according to a recent report from the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Senate's Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.

"Consumers can incur malware attacks [through online ads] without having taken any action other than visiting a mainstream website," the report notes. "Similar attacks have struck across many online advertising platforms."

It seems significantly more likely for users to be infected with malware or security threats when visiting piracy websites, for example, though third-party advertisers have been hacked in the past. Malware creators are getting more creative in their efforts to compromise users, as they find many security loopholes and very little risk.