Kaspersky, a cybersecurity solutions company, discovered that scammers are riding on the popularity of Meta’s latest social networking platform, Threads. Recognizing the power of its more than 100-million user base, cybercriminals are exploiting the hype surrounding the app luring app users to phishing pages.
According to Kaspersky’s discovery, the scammers’ phishing pages lure users to the supposed web version of Threads. Note that Meta, the developer of Threads, has not made a web or desktop version of the app. It is only available on both iOS and Android mobile devices.
“Scammers have mastered the art of capitalizing on trendy topics, emphasizing the importance of maintaining constant alertness,” Olga Svistunova, security expert at Kaspersky, said in a statement. “The prevalence of scams surrounding the popular Threads app serves as a stark reminder of the risks we face in the digital realm.”
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App users who are on Meta’s ecosystem (Facebook and Instagram) could potentially expose their personal information tied to these platforms. Some web or app services, including financial services, are linked to Facebook for easy and quick logins.
Crypto-phishing
“Not only does this pose privacy concerns like identity theft and doxing but more worryingly it carries financial risks,” Kaspersky explained. “Personal banking information or even corporate finances, as businesses use these accounts for creating ad campaigns, may end up in the wrong hands.”
As cryptocurrency phishing is on the rise, cybercriminals are also capitalizing on this creating a non-existent Threads Coin, which claims to offer enhanced possibilities by bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds, specifically within the Metaverse. Users are tempted to purchase this coin using Ethereum. However, it is important to note that the only outcome users experience is financial loss.
For those who want to increase their followers can be lured to another phishing scam that promises to help users gain 10,000-50,000 followers. There is also a prize involved which can only be claimed when the “winner” makes a payment.
To stay protected and explore new technologies in a safe way, Kaspersky experts recommend:
- Be cautious when downloading software from the internet, especially if it’s from a third-party website. Always try to download software from the official website of the company or service that you are using.
- Verify that the website you are downloading software from is legitimate. Look for the padlock icon in the address bar and make sure that the website’s URL starts with “https://” to ensure that the website is secure.
- Use strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. This can help protect your accounts from being compromised by attackers. Use a Kaspersky Password Manager to make using secure passwords easier.
- Be wary of suspicious links or emails from unknown sources. Scammers often use social engineering techniques to trick users into clicking on links or downloading malicious software.
- Use a reliable security solution and keep it up to date. Kaspersky Premium is armed with the latest intelligence and can help detect and remove any malware that may be on your computer.