Google search for EOBI still showing explicit snippet

ISLAMABAD: The official website of the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) has sparked alarm after its Google search preview began displaying strange and inappropriate text, leading many users to suspect a cyberattack.

Although the EOBI website (www.eobi.gov.pk) itself remains functional and loads without issue, the metadata shown on Google’s search results page contains unrelated and bizarre content, including phrases with adult references, suggesting a possible case of SEO poisoning or a compromised backend. 

A simple Google search for “EOBI” still reveals the problematic snippet as of Friday morning. This has left many pensioners, employers, and regular users confused and concerned. Social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), were quick to respond, with users criticising what they saw as a serious lapse in cybersecurity on a key government platform. 

One user wrote: “LMFAOOO. This is how you know whoever built the EOBI site was using cracked or nulled WordPress themes riddled with backdoors. It takes a special kind of incompetence to build a WordPress site that looks like THIS.” 

Cybersecurity experts say this could be a case of SEO poisoning, a technique in which hackers inject misleading or spam content into a website’s metadata to manipulate search engine results. This can happen without affecting the visible part of the website, making it harder for users and administrators to notice immediately. 

Such attacks often exploit weaknesses in outdated content management systems or poorly secured plugins. Experts urge that EOBI conduct a full audit of its website infrastructure and check its Google Search Console for unauthorised changes. They also recommend clearing cached versions and requesting re-indexing from Google to update the displayed information. 

The incident highlights the need for regular security checks, particularly for public-sector websites that handle sensitive data. Users are advised to always verify the website’s address manually and avoid clicking through links from search engines until the issue is resolved. 

As of 10:50 AM on Friday, the strange metadata remains visible on Google. The current description reads: “Integration between the player down on wind noise. Approach me my shank. How compliant are you? No country without rule of lifting. A lusty kiss. Fair days.” 

EOBI has not yet issued an official statement. 

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