9 Things You Should Never Search for on Google (and What to Do Instead)
Searches that lead people to scams, fake support numbers, malware and bad health advice, and the safer way to find each answer instead.
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1. Your bank's login page
Criminals buy ads and build look-alike pages that appear for searches like "[bank] login". Type your bank's address yourself, use a bookmark, or use the bank's official app.
2. Customer support phone numbers
Fake support numbers for airlines, banks, printers and tech companies appear in ads and on fake listings. The "agent" asks for remote access or payment. Find the number on the company's official website, your bill, or the back of your card.
3. Free downloads of paid software
"[expensive app] free download" and "crack" searches are a classic malware trap: password stealers often hide in cracked installers. Use free legitimate alternatives instead (LibreOffice, GIMP, DaVinci Resolve's free version, and so on).
4. Any software installer, even free ones
Scammers buy ads for popular free tools (browsers, video players, password managers) that point to malicious copies. Go to the developer's real site, or install from the Microsoft Store, Mac App Store or your phone's app store.
5. Your symptoms, for a diagnosis
Search results can make a headache look like a disaster or hide something serious. Use trusted health services such as your national health service's website, and speak to a doctor or pharmacist.
6. "Get rich quick" investments and crypto tips
Searches for fast returns attract fake trading platforms and "recovery" scammers who target people who already lost money. Check whether a firm is registered with your country's financial regulator before sending anything.
7. Coupon codes for big purchases
Most coupon sites are harmless but some push fake offers, unwanted browser extensions or survey scams. Sign up to the retailer's own newsletter or check its official deals page instead.
8. Your own personal details, carelessly
Searching your name is a smart privacy check, but do not click "free background report" sites that ask you to enter more personal data, an email address or payment details to "see the results". Google's Results about you tool can alert you when your contact details appear in search, and lets you request removal.
9. Things you would not want saved
Searches are tied to your account by default. Review myactivity.google.com, turn on auto-delete for Web & App Activity, or use a private search engine for sensitive topics. Remember that Incognito does not hide searches from your network or employer.
How to spot a dangerous result
- It is labelled Sponsored, sits above the normal results, and you are looking for a login, download or support number.
- The address is slightly off: extra words, hyphens, odd endings or misspellings.
- It creates urgency: "Your account is locked", "Call now".
- It asks for remote access, gift cards or crypto. No real company asks for payment that way.
Want to tighten things further? Our Chrome security checklist takes about ten minutes.
Quick answers
Are Google ads safe to click?
Most are legitimate, but scammers regularly slip through. For logins, downloads and support, skip the ads and go to the official site directly.
I called a fake support number. What now?
Hang up, disconnect any remote-access software they installed, run a security scan, change passwords from a different device, and call your bank using the number on your card if you shared payment details.