SERIOUS SECURITY ISSUE

10-11-21:  Serious Security issue

We have recently become aware of a serious security breach affecting the Google search engine.
At least two respected sources (see the links below) have reported that when Google search is used, it frequently delivers as the first result, “a link to a website that’s been hacked to infect visitors’ devices with a virus”.

As our members know, the VCC has not recommended the Chrome Browser or the Google search engine for quite some time due to serious concerns about privacy and safety. This revelation exacerbates the level of our concern by a significant degree. Consequently, we must double down on our recommendation to discontinue using Google search at once, regardless of the browser you have set as a default, as well as in any other browsers you use.

For safety’s sake replace Google search with either “Startpage” or “Qwant” (see the link to VCC presentation below).

References:

VCC Best Practices Presentation (Appendix) Oct. 8, 2021 provides links to alternate Search engines

The first Google search result often leads to a virus

Gootloader: Watch Out For This Devious Malware On Google


In the immortal words of TV’s Detective Monk– please be careful, “it’s a jungle out there”.