Hackers are increasingly using search engine optimisation (SEO) techniques to spread malicious software, a new research report from Websense has found.
 
The information protection firm identified that more than one in ten (13.7 per cent) of web searches for trending news of buzz words, as defined by Yahoo! Buzz and Google Trends, led users to malware.
 
Some 35 per cent of malicious web attacks included code designed to steal data, such as bank details and passwords.
 
Additionally, malware authors and spammers are stepping up their efforts on Web 2.0 sites allowing user-generated content such as blogs and message boards.
 
"Malicious hackers are really focusing their efforts to ensure they're driving their victims straight to them," said Dan Hubbard, chief technology officer at Websense.
 
"By poisoning search results and focusing on Web 2.0 sites, their efforts are often more efficient and effective."
 
Websense recently released the first real-time security app for Facebook as part of its Defensio 2.0 launch.