Links leading to images of child abuse posted on message boards

Hackers are using legitimate messageboards, forums and web pages to hide links to images of child abuse, security company Sophos has warned.

According to Fraser Howard principal virus researcher at Sophos, the affected sites use techniques used to optimise searches in search engines such as Google.

“How hackers post the infected links is varied but the links to these websites are often hidden in key words found on forums,” he said.

“Any website can fall victim to an attack as there is no pattern to where these links might pop up with them appearing on legitimate sites for an American university to a German social youth one aimed at children. All contain offensive words and hidden links to the sites.”

John Carr Internet and technology consultant at children’s charity the NCH said this was "highly concerning" and those responsible should be "prosecuted to the highest extent."

He recommended parents sit down with their children and explained the dangers of clicking on links to sites.

Sophos also recommended parents ensure they installed a child filter, which most leading internet service providers offer their customers. This would pick up on  offensive material or words and block access to such sites.