Are there ads going around right now that people dont even have to interact with that steals your data such as texts, search history, screenshots, apps downloaded, and more
Executive summary
Malicious ads and ad-driven campaigns are a real vector for data‑stealing malware and even zero‑click spyware delivery: researchers and vendors have documented infostealers distributed via Google and Meta ads, SEO‑poisoning and malvertising that harvest browser data, credentials, screenshots and wallets [1] [2] [3]. Leaks and reporting also show advanced mercenary spyware (Predator) can be delivered via ad‑served exploitation paths, including zero‑click or one‑click vectors that require little or no user interaction once the ad or page is rendered [4] [5].
1. Malicious ads are an established infection channel
Security reporting and vendor research show cybercriminals use paid ads and search results to push phishing sites and malware: campaigns have used Google Ads and Meta ads to trick users into downloading infostealer malware that exfiltrates browser data, credentials and other sensitive files [1] [3]. Industry summaries link infostealers’ distribution to SEO poisoning and Google Ads buys alongside classic drive‑by exploits and supply‑chain attacks, making ad inventory a recurring delivery route [2].
2. What attackers can steal once a device is compromised
Infostealer families and malvertising payloads are designed to harvest wide swaths of data: browser credentials, cookies, stored form data, crypto wallets, screenshots and keylogged inputs have all been observed in multi‑stage campaigns that begin with fraudulent ads or lookalike landing pages [3] [6]. Threat reports and researchers describe modules that intercept traffic, log keystrokes, take screenshots and extract stored secrets — functionality that fulfills the “texts, screenshots, apps downloaded, search history” concerns in the question when the device is infected [6] [3].
3. Zero‑click and one‑click spyware delivered via ads: documented in leaks
Beyond commodity infostealers, leak analysis of mercenary spyware vendor Intellexa shows Predator was sometimes delivered via ad‑served exploit frameworks that used zero‑day browser and engine flaws; those installations could harvest messages, calls, locations and screenshots without target interaction or with a single click [4] [5]. Reporting indicates these are high‑end, targeted tools sold to governments and other customers — not broad consumer campaigns — but the vector (malicious ads that deliver exploits) is real [4] [5].
4. Not every malicious ad requires clicking — context matters
Sources indicate two distinct technical possibilities: (a) drive‑by or exploit‑on‑render attacks where a crafted ad or page triggers a browser/engine zero‑day on render (zero‑click); and (b) social‑engineering ads that entice users to click and download infostealers or visit phishing pages [4] [1]. High‑end spyware campaigns have used zero‑click exploitation tied to ad delivery [4] [5]. Commodity fraud and infostealers more commonly rely on getting the user to click or download after being redirected from an ad [1] [2].
5. How widespread is this threat for ordinary users?
Infostealers and malvertising campaigns are widespread enough to appear in major seasonal fraud spikes and in vendor threat summaries (Black Friday scams, multiform platform campaigns) — researchers found dozens of fraudulent Meta and Google ads tied to malware in specific campaigns [3] [6]. By contrast, reports of zero‑click delivery of Predator come from leaked intel on a mercenary spyware firm and point to targeted operations rather than mass consumer exploitation [4] [5].
6. What defenses and signals matter right now
Practices recommended by researchers and vendors include avoiding downloads from ads, verifying deals at source (type the official URL), using updated browsers and OSs to receive security patches, and employing OS/app‑level protections and ad‑blockers where appropriate—TechCrunch and other outlets have argued ad‑blocking reduces exposure to ad‑based spyware vectors [7] [3]. Enterprise defenders and cloud teams also track SEO poisoning and fraudulent ad redirects to block phishing funnels [8] [2].
7. Competing perspectives and limits of current reporting
Security vendors and journalism agree ads are abused for both mass infostealer distribution and targeted spyware delivery [1] [4] [6]. The distinction matters: commodity ad campaigns generally require some user action (click/download) to install stealers [1] [2], while leaked intelligence on Predator documents specific cases of zero‑click exploit delivery via ad frameworks but ties those to a mercenary spyware market and targeted customers [4] [5]. Available sources do not mention how often ordinary ad impressions (no click) lead to mass compromise of consumers’ messages or app data outside these documented high‑end cases.
8. Bottom line for readers
Treat ads as a real attack surface: don’t click suspicious ads, verify landing sites, keep software patched, use reputable ad‑blocking where acceptable, and monitor for unusual account activity. The technical record shows both mass‑market malvertising that steals credentials and targeted ad‑based exploit campaigns tied to mercenary spyware — both can exfiltrate the kinds of data you asked about if an infection occurs [1] [2] [4].