Google alone generates a multi-billion dollar income which is mainly focused around one component: advertising. So, if they are able to make so much money off of it, it must mean that it is a huge success. Well, it is, and that is why identity thieves are using them. While it seems like the threat has been eliminated, who knows where more of these advertising scams are on Google’s networks.

Google Inc. yanked paid advertisements linked to some 20 search terms that online criminals had hijacked to steal banking and other personal information from Web surfers looking for the Better Business Bureau and other sites.

It was unclear how many people were affected before the breach was discovered this week, but computer security experts said Thursday the attack appears to be isolated and only targeting Windows XP users who had not properly updated their machines.

They said the attack was unlikely to undermine Google’s core business of selling lucrative advertising links, which made up the bulk of the Mountain View-based company’s $3.08 billion in profit in 2006 and $1 billion in the first quarter of 2007 alone.

Google said it dismantled the offending links and shut down the problem AdWords accounts Tuesday. The company is working with advertisers to identify any other malware-loaded sites that might be on the network, it said.

‘’We canceled the affected ads as soon as we were made aware of the problem,'’ the company said in a statement. ‘’Overall, Google is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our users and our advertisers. We actively work to detect and remove sites that serve malware to our users both in our ad network and in our search results.'’[more]

Tags: Identity Theft