Targeted advertising is also targeting malware

"Malvertising surpassed both email and direct hacks as the leading vector for malware delivery worldwide. Millions of copies of a single infected advertising creative or script can be distributed across publishers in seconds, the company said in its 2026 Intelligence Report."

"The use of AI is accelerating this, allowing malicious actors to write adaptive malware that changes its behavior based on location, browser, or device."

Malvertising has emerged as the leading method for delivering malware to organizations worldwide, overtaking email and direct hacking attempts. A single infected advertising creative or script can be distributed across multiple publishers in seconds, reaching millions of users rapidly. Artificial intelligence is accelerating this threat by enabling malicious actors to create adaptive malware that modifies its behavior based on the target's location, browser type, or device characteristics. This technological advancement allows attackers to customize their approach for different environments, making malware campaigns more effective and harder to detect.

Read at Computerworld