Why You Should Scroll Past the First Result on Google

Article Summary: Scammers buy ads on Google and other search engines using the names of trusted brands and software. This allows their fake websites to appear above the legitimate results.

Clicking one of these ads can take you to a page designed to steal your login information or install malware. You can avoid most of this risk by skipping sponsored results and visiting the official website directly.

When you search Google for a program to download or a website to log in to, the first result you see is often an ad. It appears at the top of the page with a small “Sponsored” label.

Most people click without a second thought because they assume the top result is the one they need. Scammers count on that.

They purchase ads using the names of trusted companies and popular software. Their fake website then appears above the legitimate one, making it easy to mistake the ad for the official page.

How the Scam Works

This tactic is called malvertising, short for malicious advertising.

A scammer purchases a search ad for something people already trust, such as:

• A bank’s name

• The Microsoft 365 login page

• A PDF reader

• A video player

• A widely used business application

The ad may display the real brand name and a web address that looks legitimate. When someone clicks it, they are taken to a page designed to look like the official website.

The fake page may ask the person to log in, sending their username and password directly to the scammer. In other cases, it offers a software download that installs malware instead of the real program.

Why These Ads Are So Easy to Fall For

These ads are convincing for several reasons:

• They appear above the legitimate search result.

• They use the real company’s name and branding.

• Their web addresses may look almost identical to the real ones.

• They appear during a search the person started, making them feel safer than an unexpected email or text message.

Attackers have also learned how to hide from the systems designed to detect malicious ads. They may show a harmless page to advertising reviewers while directing regular visitors to the malicious version.

This allows the ad to pass the review process and still cause damage.

How Common Is This?

The problem is widespread.

In its 2025 Ads Safety Report, Google said it blocked or removed more than 8.3 billion ads that violated its policies. It also suspended 24.9 million advertiser accounts and removed 602 million ads connected to scams.

Google also noted that criminals are using AI to create deceptive ads more quickly.

Security researchers have discovered malicious search ads impersonating popular programs such as VLC, 7-Zip, and CCleaner. Attackers have even impersonated Google’s own applications. In several cases, the advertised downloads installed password-stealing malware.

These threats appear in the same everyday searches your team performs.

What This Means for Your Business

For businesses, the risk usually appears in two common situations: downloading software and logging in to important accounts.

Downloading Software

An employee searches for a program, clicks the top ad, and installs what appears to be the correct software. Instead, the download contains malware that can steal information stored in the browser.

Logging In

An employee searches for “Microsoft 365 login” or the name of the company’s bank. They click the sponsored result instead of the official website and enter their username and password into a fake login page.

In both situations, attackers may gain access to:

• Saved passwords

• Browser cookies

• Session tokens

• Business email accounts

• Financial or cloud accounts

Stolen session tokens can sometimes allow an attacker to access an account even when multi-factor authentication is enabled.

How to Protect Your Team

Skip Sponsored Results

Ads appear at the top of search results and are usually marked “Sponsored” or “Ad.” Scroll down and look for the company’s official website in the regular search results.

Never Download Software From an Ad

Type the software company’s official web address directly into the browser, or use the regular search results to find its website. Only download software from the official source.

Bookmark Important Login Pages

Save bookmarks for Microsoft 365, banking platforms, payroll systems, and other important accounts. Employees can use those bookmarks instead of searching for the login page each time.

Keep Devices and Browsers Updated

Enable automatic updates for operating systems, browsers, and security software. Updates will not prevent every malicious download, but they can reduce the chance that malware will successfully exploit a device.

Make Sure Your Team Knows About the Scam

Many people do not realize that the first search result can be dangerous. A short conversation or security reminder can make employees more cautious about clicking sponsored results.

The Bottom Line

The top search result is not always the safest one.

Encourage your team to avoid sponsored results, use bookmarked login pages, and download software only from verified official websites. One careful click can

prevent stolen credentials, malware infections, and costly account compromises.