What is SEO poisoning and how is it related to Bengal cats in Australia?

Luke Meredith

Leading cybersecurity company Sophos has identified a new example of search engine optimisation (SEO) “poisoning” – a dangerous query that Google users should avoid searching for at all costs.

SEO poisoning is a method employed by cybercriminals to trick search engine users into unknowingly installing malware onto their devices. It works by criminals creating fake websites designed to rank highly for specific or niche queries with a decent amount of search volume, but little in terms of trusted answers from real online sources.

When malware-ridden websites take over the search engine results pages (SERPs) for these queries, they can wreak havoc on any user’s computer if they click on the website. Malware of this nature has the potential to steal financial information and other personal data from a device, as well as giving hackers remote access to use your computer.

Sophos has identified the search term “are Bengal cats legal in Australia” as a query that has been “poisoned”. This means that, when the issue was first identified, anyone who typed that question into Google was provided with fake websites full of malware on their results page.

The reason why this particular question was chosen for the poisoning, most likely, is that the question had a fair level of search volume in Australia, as Bengal cats are a fairly controversial topic.

It is wise to inspect all web pages you are provided with on a SERP as much as possible before you click on it. Fake websites designed to infect your computer may be more likely to feature typos, unusual domain names or request information from you in one form or another.
Sophos also advises search engine users to keep both their browser and their device’s operating system fully up to date, as hackers are more likely to be equipped to tackle earlier versions.

Unfortunately, we’re still none the wiser as to whether or not Bengal cats are legal in Australia; typing it into Google probably isn’t worth the risk.

Here at Engage Web, we’ll strive to ensure your website ranks highly for all of the non-poisonous search queries that are relevant to your business’ products and services. Speak to our team today to find out how we can help.

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Luke Meredith

Content Editor at Engage Web

At home in both the digital sector and the world of communications, Luke thrives on deadlines and has held roles in healthcare, retail and digital marketing, gaining a sound knowledge of a wide range of sectors. He’s a massive swot as well, holding a first-class degree in BA Communication and Media, and now uses his writing skills and keen editorial eye in his role as Content Editor here. Luke helps to oversee our clients’ content requirements, while also looking after a pool of freelance writers across three continents.

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What is SEO poisoning and how is it related to Bengal cats in Australia?