Girlzsportteam.top Pushes Unwanted Ads
During an investigation of questionable websites, our researchers came across the girlzsportteam.top rogue page. Upon examination, we determined that this webpage prompts spam browser notifications and redirects users to potentially unreliable or hazardous sites.
Visitors to girlzsportteam.top and similar pages typically arrive there through redirects caused by websites using deceptive advertising networks.
The content displayed on rogue websites like girlzsportteam.top may vary based on factors such as the visitor's IP address (geolocation).
During our study, girlzsportteam.top featured several pop-ups and a deceptive video player. The text on the page prompts users to "CLICK ALLOW TO CLOSE THIS PAGE", "Your Video Is Ready/ Press Play to start the video", and "Press 'Allow' to watch the video". Clicking the "Allow" button grants girlzsportteam.top permission to display browser notifications.
Rogue websites exploit these notifications to conduct intrusive advertising campaigns. These ads can promote online scams, unreliable or hazardous software, and even malware.
How Can Misleading Sites Abuse Push Notifications for Ad Spam?
Misleading websites can abuse push notifications for ad spam by tricking visitors into allowing notifications that are then used to deliver unwanted advertisements. Here's how this abuse typically happens:
Deceptive Tactics: Misleading websites use deceptive tactics to convince visitors to click on prompts that allow notifications. They may display fake messages like "Click Allow to Close This Page" or "Press Allow to Watch the Video", making users believe they need to enable notifications to access content or dismiss the page.
Permission Prompt: When a user clicks on the deceptive message, the website presents a browser prompt asking for permission to show notifications. If the user grants permission without realizing the consequences, the website gains the ability to push notifications to the user's device.
Persistent Notifications: Once permission is granted, the misleading website can send push notifications directly to the user's browser, even when they are not actively visiting the site. These notifications appear as pop-ups on the user's screen, promoting various ads, offers, or scams.
Ad Spam and Clickbait: The notifications sent by the misleading site often contain ad spam or clickbait messages designed to lure users back to the site or to click on affiliate links. They may promote dubious products, online scams, fake software updates, or other potentially harmful content.
