Beware Facebook Users: The Lure Of Explicit Content May Cost You Your Data

Meta Platforms Inc.’s (NASDAQ:META) social media platform, Facebook, is currently seeing an uptick in NSFW (not safe for work) malware attacks that lure users in with the promise of explicit content, only to infect their systems with data-stealing malware, as per a recent study.

What Happened: Cybercriminals are reportedly taking advantage of the curiosity of social media users by offering adult content, as reported by Bitdefender on Tuesday. The cybersecurity firm found a large-scale operation on Facebook designed to pilfer personal and financial data from unsuspecting users.

The criminals are primarily targeting men aged 45 and above, with an estimated potential of 100,000 malware downloads. These attackers create fake Facebook profiles, promising to upload provocative photos. When users fall for the bait and click on the link, they receive an executable file named “Photo Album.exe,” which infects their systems with a variant of NodeStealer malware.

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This new wave of malware not only grants attackers access to the victim’s Facebook account but also to their email platforms, such as Gmail or Outlook, and can even plunder cryptocurrencies from their wallets. The campaign has been wildly successful, with a single advertisement generating nearly 15,000 downloads within its first day.

Despite Facebook’s efforts to curb these ads, the attackers have found ways to evade detection. They limit their active ads to a maximum of five at any given time and rotate them every 24 hours, thus reducing the likelihood of being reported by users.

To avoid falling for these cyberattacks, users are advised to be cautious when presented with suspicious links or promises of explicit content on Facebook.

Why It Matters: The prevalence of these attacks points to a growing trend of cybercriminals exploiting the curiosity of internet users. The success of this campaign indicates that such tactics are highly effective, posing significant threats to user data security. As cybercriminals continue to improve their tactics, users and companies alike must remain vigilant and take proactive steps to ensure their online safety.

Photo by FP Creative Stock on Shutterstock

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