Kaspersky, a cybersecurity solutions provider, has recorded more than 250,000 cyberattacks that used popular anime titles and streaming services to trick young users into downloading malware or unwanted files.
“Scammers have found new ways to take advantage of Gen Z’s affinity for digital culture and streaming platforms,” said Vasily Kolesnikov, security expert at Kaspersky.
The cybersecurity company’s report, which covers the second quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025, found that hackers commonly disguised malicious content as episodes or exclusive content from well-known anime shows like “Naruto,” “One Piece,” “Demon Slayer,” “Attack on Titan,” and “Jujutsu Kaisen.”
Among these, “Naruto” was linked to the most attempted attacks, with 114,216 cases. “Demon Slayer” followed with 44,200, while “Attack on Titan” had 39,433.
Kaspersky’s data highlights how cybercriminals are targeting Gen Z by tapping into their strong interest in anime. The report also found that over 65% of Gen Z watch anime regularly, making them the most engaged generation when it comes to this type of content.
Not just anime
Besides anime, other titles familiar to Gen Z were also used in scams. Kaspersky found 43,302 attempted attacks related to films and series such as “Shrek,” “Stranger Things,” “Twilight,” “Inside Out 2,” and “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Most of these were linked to “Shrek,” which saw more than 36,000 attacks and a spike in March 2025.
Streaming services also became a frequent target. Kaspersky recorded 96,288 cases involving fake content posing as official releases or updates from platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV Plus, and HBO Max.
Netflix was the most targeted platform, connected to 85,679 attempted attacks and more than 2.8 million phishing pages that mimicked its design. Cybercriminals often use fake login pages, trial offers, or password reset links to steal user information.
Raising awareness through games
To help Gen Z users stay safe, Kaspersky launched an interactive game called Case 404. It encourages players to become cyber-detectives and solve digital cases.
“With the rise of these cyberthreats, it’s more important than ever for young users to stay vigilant and understand how to protect themselves online,” Kolesnikov said.
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