Official EU Website Exploited in Super Bowl Scams Ends Up High in Google Search Results

• Hackers exploited a Europa.eu subdomain for fraudulent redirects and high-ranking search results.
• They manipulated Google’s algorithms via in-demand keywords like Super Bowl paired with “stream/download/free.”
• Visitors were prompted to provide personal information, including credit card details.

Scammers exploited a subdomain of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) website (mgmt-test.efsa.europa.eu) to redirect users to piracy and scam websites promising “free” services. This breach targeted the high-traffic Super Bowl weekend. 

This security lapse has raised serious questions about the security gaps across European Union (EU) websites. The exploit was particularly alarming due to its method of operation. 

Users who clicked on the compromised URLs were automatically redirected to fraudulent websites promising free access to sought-after content, including high-profile events like Super Bowl streams. 

Instead of accessing legitimate content, visitors were prompted to provide personal information, including credit card details, potentially putting them at risk of identity theft or financial fraud. 

The tactics used by the scammers allowed these fraudulent links to rank prominently in Google search results. By leveraging keywords such as “stream,” “download,” and “free,” paired with references to in-demand content, they manipulated Google’s algorithms to secure top positions in search rankings. 

While search engines actively downrank traditional piracy websites, scammers have exploited the void to promote their own malicious operations.  

This is not the first time official EU websites have been abused. Cybercriminals frequently target official domains like europa.eu, capitalizing on their credibility to propagate scams. Previous incidents often involved user-generated content or uploaded PDF files containing malicious links. 

However, this latest breach stands out due to its automated redirects, which likely made it even more effective at deceiving users.  

EFSA acted swiftly to mitigate the breach—taking the affected subdomain offline within hours and working to remove scam-affiliated pages from search results—but the vulnerability persists on EU websites. 

Similar dubious content has also been identified on other official platforms, including the European Social Fund+ and Interoperable Europe websites.