The number of cyberattacks aiming to promote illegal gambling sites is increasing in Belgium. Not only school websites but also law firms have been affected. One of the victims of these fraudulent maneuvers is PepperMill Casino, whose name is being maliciously used without any involvement on its part.
Compromised educational and legal websites
The website Jeu Argent discovered on Monday that several websites had been hacked to display a promotional page for the illegal casino GRANCASINO. To rank better on Google, these pages include highly searched keywords such as “PepperMill Casino.”
This time, the websites of IPEFA SUP in Seraing and the Université libre de Bruxelles were affected. A quick Google search using the keywords “PepperMill Casino avis en ligne” ranks these hacked sites 6th and 8th in search results.
This is not surprising, as both sites used the same URL for the fraudulent page: peppermill-casino-avis-en-ligne.
This page is identical to the one we found recently on the KOG school website.
The websites of Saloon Brussels and the Hamblin Family Law firm were also reportedly affected, but we found no direct evidence of this. It is entirely possible that the owners of these websites have already taken the necessary steps to fix the security vulnerability that allowed the hacking.
PepperMill Casino: A collateral victim
PepperMill Casino, a legal and trustworthy operator, is being wrongfully associated with these fraudulent practices. Illegal gambling sites use its name to lure unsuspecting players to unregulated platforms. It is crucial to emphasize that PepperMill Casino is in no way connected to these malicious activities. The casino is committed to providing a safe gaming environment, is licensed and regulated by the Belgian Gaming Commission, and implements strict measures to protect its users.
What hacking techniques are used?
Cybercriminals exploit various security vulnerabilities to achieve their goals:
- Malicious content injection: By accessing website configurations, they insert fraudulent pages or links.
- Redirecting visitors: Hackers alter website settings to redirect users to illegal platforms.
- Phishing: By creating fake websites or compromising legitimate ones, they steal confidential user information.
To reduce the risk of hacking, several preventive measures can be applied:
- Regularly update systems and software: Updates often fix vulnerabilities exploited by hackers.
- Use strong and unique passwords: Avoid obvious combinations and change passwords regularly.
- Train staff in cybersecurity: Raising awareness of risks and best practices can prevent human errors.
- Conduct regular security audits: Identify and fix potential weaknesses before they are exploited.
Consequences for players
As a player, it is essential to remain vigilant. Illegal gambling sites constantly develop new strategies to attract users.
Accessing illegal websites can lead to financial losses, personal data theft, and a lack of legal recourse in case of disputes. Institutions, on the other hand, suffer reputational damage and must invest resources to secure their platforms.
The rise in cyberattacks targeting school and law firm websites to promote illegal online casinos is alarming. Although PepperMill Casino is a victim of these practices, it continues to ensure a secure gaming environment for its users.
Response from the IPEFA SUP Management in Seraing
We contacted the school management in Seraing to inform them about the hacking of their website. The director was very surprised and immediately reached out to her IT department to resolve the issue.