Google: Hacker's Best Friend?

The first exploitations of Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) peculiar search algorithms were humorous, political, or both. I'm referring the once-popular procedure of Google Bombing, a way of setting up links and Web pages in order to hijack the Google search on popular phrases. There was the one where "weapons of mass destruction" brought up a faux "cannot be found" page, and the one where anyone searching for "French military victories" was asked if he didn't mean "defeats."

But today's virus scare focuses on a more nefarious exploitation of the company's search technology. Today, a worm was found that actually used Google's search results to help it find new targets. The worm didn't zap end users like you and me, but instead targeted billboards run on a virus-vulnerable version of the popular open-source software PHP.

Although Google acted quickly to stop doing the worm's dirty work, it wasn't fast enough for Web security biz F Secure, which complained that it got no response from Google's generic security address, and had to try an end run through the PR department. When the news hit the wires earlier this week that the firm's desktop search contained a "security flaw," I suggested -- and I wasn't the only one -- that Google needed to be a bit more proactive regarding such threats. This is the big leagues, and no one wants to end up with a reputation like Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT). Google shut this one down, but how long before the copycat search 'n' destroy attempts come to pass? (How long before shady entrepreneurs figure out a way to profit off Google by writing similar, leeching scripts?)

The other lesson for investors is that Microsoft, contrary to the overwhelming chatter, isn't the only source of computer vulnerabilities. Some reports claim that Linux, the open-source operating system peddled by dozens of outfits, including Red Hat (NASDAQ:RHAT), Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ:SUNW), and IBM (NYSE:IBM), is already the world's most oft-breached OS, comprising 65% of security compromises compared to Windows' 25%.

It's enough to make you want to consider an investment in some of the antivirus companies, like Symantec (NASDAQ:SYMC), but then again, this business is already priced for optimism. The players are looking for other ways to make the top line grow, and revenues can be snatched by competitors more quickly than you can say "Santy Claws."

For related Foolishness:

• Review much ado about Google.
• See what happens when Redmond taketh away.
• Why was Symantec slammed?

Seth Jayson enjoys Internet searches as much as the next guy, but he prefers his price-to-earnings ratios on $50 billion companies to be less than 225. At the time of publication, he had positions in no firm mentioned here. View his stock holdings and Fool profile here. Fool rules are here.