Searching on Google might seem like one of the safest things to do online. 

But cybersecurity experts warn that there are some searches which could put you at serious risk of being hacked.

Last week, it was revealed that cybercriminals had hijacked the Google results for 'Are Bengal cats legal in Australia?' to infect cat-lovers' computers.

Now, experts have revealed the seven other common words and phrases you should never Google.

Using a technique called 'Buy Best SEO poisoning' criminals exploit Google's search results to lure unsuspecting victims into websites they control.

Following these links could lead to hackers taking over your computer, stealing your information, and even holding your data for ransom.

Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET, told MailOnline: 'SEO poisoning is a tactic used by cybercriminals to manipulate search engine results and then direct users to malicious websites which often look genuine.

'When users click on these links they are taken to sites that expose them to malware that often immediately downloads which can compromise the computer's security and potentially lead to data theft or device infections.'





Cybersecurity experts have revealed the seven common words and phrases that you should never Google or your computer could be hacked (file photo)


1: 'Customer service number' 
According to cybersecurity firm TorGuard scammers frequently purchase adverts for search terms so that their malicious sites appear near the top of the results page. 

Since most internet users assume that the top-listed results are legitimate, people follow these links without proper scrutiny.

TorGuard founder Ben Van Pelt says that scammers will often use these adverts to impersonate the customer service helpline of a legitimate company.

When a customer calls that number, instead of reaching the company they intended to find, they are met by a scammer ready to try and steal their information.

Mr Van Pelt told Indy100: 'They receive these calls, sometimes hundreds daily, and they convincingly mimic a technician.'

To avoid these scams, always look for customer service numbers directly from the company's official website rather than from Google search results.

Likewise, internet users should be very careful about searching for the term 'tech support'.




Cybersecurity firm SOPHOS found that searching for the term 'Are Bengal cats legal in Australia?' led users to a fake forum which tricked visitors into downloading malware. Now, experts have revealed that there are other phrases you should avoid searching for