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Why You Should Scroll Past the First Result on Google

ByKen Yellen

Article Summary: Scammers buy ads on Google and other search engines using the names of trusted brands and software. Their fake site then shows up at the very top of the results, above the real one. Click one of these fake Google ads and you can land on a page that steals your login or installs malware. You can avoid nearly all of it by skipping sponsored results and going to the real website yourself.

When you search Google for a program to download or a website to log into, the first thing you usually see is an ad. It sits at the top, marked “Sponsored.” Most people click it without a second thought, because the top result is normally what they wanted.

Scammers count on that habit. They buy ads on the names of trusted companies and popular software, so their fake site appears right at the top. You click it, thinking it’s the official page.

At Pacific Edge Technology, we help businesses across Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco protect their teams from scams like this. Here’s how fake Google ads work and how to keep your staff from falling for them.

How the scam works

The trick is called malvertising, short for malicious advertising. A scammer buys a search ad for a term people trust. That might be the name of your bank, a Microsoft login, or a common program like a PDF reader or video player. The ad looks normal, with the real brand name and a web address that looks right.

Clicking the ad takes you to a page designed to look exactly like the real one. Sometimes the page asks you to log in and sends your username and password straight to the scammer. Other times it offers the software you wanted, but the download installs malware instead.

Why fake Google ads are so easy to fall for

These ads are convincing for three reasons. They sit above the real result, so you see them first. They use the real company’s name and a web address that looks right. And they appear on a search you started yourself, so they feel less suspicious than a random email or text.

Attackers have also gotten good at dodging the checks meant to stop them. They show a clean, harmless page to ad reviewers and the malicious page to everyone else. That way, the ad passes review and still does damage.

How common is this?

Very common. In its 2025 Ads Safety Report, Google said it blocked or removed more than 8.3 billion ads that broke its rules. It also suspended 24.9 million advertiser accounts and blocked 602 million ads tied to scams. Google noted that criminals now use AI to create fake ads at scale.

Security researchers have found scam search ads pretending to be popular programs like VLC, 7-Zip, and CCleaner. The downloads installed malware that steals passwords. These ads show up on the everyday searches your team runs.

What this means for your business

For a business, the risk shows up in two everyday situations: downloading software and logging in.

Downloading software

An employee searches for a tool, clicks the top ad, and installs a program. Behind the scenes, it steals the passwords and logins saved in their browser.

Logging in

An employee searches for “Microsoft 365 login” or your bank’s name. They click the ad instead of the official link and type their username and password straight into a fake page.

Why this matters even with MFA

The biggest danger is malware that steals information. Once it’s on a computer, it can grab saved passwords, browser cookies, and session tokens. With those, an attacker can sometimes get into accounts even when multi-factor authentication is turned on.

How to protect your team

  • Scroll past the sponsored results. Ads sit at the top, marked “Sponsored” or “Ad.” The real website is usually just below, in the normal results.
  • Never download software from an ad. Type the maker’s web address yourself, or use the normal search result, and download from the official site.
  • Bookmark the sites you log into. For your bank, Microsoft 365, and other important accounts, use a saved bookmark instead of searching each time.
  • Limit who can install software. When everyday user accounts can’t install programs, a bad download has far less chance of running. Your IT provider can handle installs or approve them.
  • Keep devices and browsers updated. Turn on automatic updates so malware has fewer weaknesses to exploit.
  • Tell your team about fake Google ads. Most people have no idea the top result can be a trap. Once they know, they stop clicking.

If you’re a Tri-Cities business, get in touch with Pacific Edge Technology. We can give your team a quick rundown on scam ads and lock down how software gets installed on your computers.

Fake Google Ads FAQs

Aren’t the ads at the top of Google checked and safe?

Google reviews ads and removes billions that break its rules. Still, scammers slip through by showing reviewers a clean page and everyone else a malicious one. A “Sponsored” label doesn’t mean the site is safe.

What is malvertising?

Malvertising is short for malicious advertising. Scammers buy online ads, often using trusted brand names, to send people to fake sites that steal logins or install malware.

How do I download software safely?

Go to the maker’s official website by typing the address yourself, or use the normal, non-ad search result. Never download from a sponsored ad.

What should I do if someone clicked a fake ad?

If they only visited the page, close it without entering anything. If they typed a password, change it right away and make sure MFA is on. If they downloaded and ran a file, disconnect the computer from the network and have your IT provider check it for malware.

Does an ad blocker help?

It can. A reputable ad blocker hides many sponsored results, which removes fake links before anyone can click them. It isn’t a complete fix, so keep the habits above too.

Sources and further reading

Featured Image Credit

This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

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