Hackers Manipulate Search Engines to Push Malicious Sites

A new wave of cybercrime is exploiting the very backbone of internet trust: search engines.

Recent research by Netcraft has exposed a sophisticated and organized SEO poisoning operation, where hackers manipulate search engine algorithms to push malicious websites to the top of search results.

At the heart of this campaign is a platform known as Hacklink—a marketplace that allows cybercriminals to buy access to thousands of compromised websites and inject code designed to deceive both users and search engines.

How the Scam Works

Hackers using Hacklink gain control over legitimate websites, often without the owners’ knowledge. Through a control panel, they insert links to phishing, gambling, or other illicit sites directly into the source code of these compromised domains.

The injected content is crafted with specific keywords and anchor text, targeting high-traffic search terms—especially those related to online gambling and pharmaceuticals.

This manipulation ...