A new malware scam is tempting users on Facebook to click on a link that promises nude videos of actress Emma Watson. When the user clicks on the link, they download malware instead.
The celebrity nude picture hacking scandal that has become the center of media focus worldwide in the past weeks is now spreading to claim additional victims -- Facebook users who click on a link directing them to purported nude videos of Emma Watson.
This malware campaign seems designed to capitalize on the belief that such videos exist, now that actual nude photos of A-list actresses such as Jennifer Lawrence, stolen from the iCloud, have surfaced and been verified as authentic by the actress herself. Weeks ago, an earlier purported nude photo leak of Watson also turned out to be a hoax.
A warning from Security Specialist Bianca Stanescu of antivirus provider Bitdefender states: "It all starts with a Facebook comment promising to reveal private or leaked videos of Emma Watson. The comments are automatically posted by users infected with the malware. As is the case with many Facebook scams, victims end up as marketers for cybercrooks."
"When users click on the malicious links, they are redirected to a salacious YouTube copycat." Stanescu explains. "Future victims are then asked to update their Flash Player to the latest secured version of Video Player, as an error allegedly prevents them from watching the leaked videos of Emma Watson." The Trojan instead contains malicious malware, which harms the user's computer by stealing personal data, hijacking sessions on Facebook, and altering browser settings.
Facebook scams are widespread, so as users become more educated, scammers are coming up with new and innovative ways to get users to bypass the usual cautions.
By promising nude leaks from one of the world's biggest young actresses, they tempt viewers to throw caution to the wind in hopes of viewing the salacious content. Most users also know that these types of unauthorized photo leaks are often pulled from the Internet soon after being released, and the malware developers hope that in the rush to view the forbidden content before the star's legal team has the photos pulled, users get caught up in the moment and fall for the scam. Don't be one of them!
