F0rd P0wn3d By L33T 13lackh4t $E0 Att4ck

Ford is warning web users to avoid becoming victim of a Black Hat Search Engine Optimization attack targeting popular searches for their products. The translation for what that means below.

Essentially, hackers with evil intentions (i.e. Blackhat) have driven their pages for semi-common searches like "Where is the fusebox on a Ford Escort" high on search-engine result pages. When someone clicks on the link they're told they need to install a plugin. The plugin is actually malware (a bad app). This malware convinces the user their computer is busted and then forces them to buy software to "clean it up."

This video below should explain in detail what's happening:.

FORD WARNS AGAINST MALWARE ATTACK

DEARBORN, Mich, Apr. 14, 2009 – Ford Motor Company was made aware of a black hat Search Engine Optimization (SEO) attack using the Ford Motor Company name as bait to distribute malware on the Internet. Ford is collaborating with Google and other search engine companies to mitigate the impact.

These attacks work by misleading search engines to falsely promote malicious pages to the top of the search results. Once the user visits one of the malicious sites, they are prompted to download and install a malicious "codec", which then installs software that mimics anti-virus software.

These fake antivirus programs are designed to make users believe that their computers have been infected by malware. Users are then offered the chance – through pop-ups and banner ads – to buy the fake antivirus to clean their computers. If the victim does not purchase the bogus antivirus, the malicious code will prevent the computer from operating properly in an attempt to coax users into buying the product.

[Source: Ford]