In the News
Free-Movie downloads and false promises. In Avengers: Endgame Sites Promise Digital Downloads, Deliver Info-Harvesting, Tara Seals at Threatpost discusses free movie download scams designed to steal user information. Seals explains that ads to download the new Avengers movie for free entice individuals to input account password information and sometimes financial payment information. Seals clarifies that these free downloads are not fulfilling their ad promise after they receive the necessary information. Seals states that these scams capitalize on emotions and specifically prey on those who click with emotions.
Our Take
Although the prospect of downloading a movie for free is appealing, the reality of ‘free’ items is often associated with a malicious intent. In this case, the scammers are hoping that individuals input their personal information without thinking about the repercussions or the legitimacy of the site before doing so. This is very similar to social media or email scams where the attackers hope you click out of pure excitement or another strong emotion. In either case, refrain from inputting personal information on a site before verifying its legitimacy. Always remember, if something seems too good to be true, it most likely is.
Recommendations
How can you protect the privacy of your personal and financial information?
- Use safe password practices when creating online accounts and never reuse a password
- Check your email, financial accounts, and credit reports regularly for abnormal activities
- Stay up to date on the news regarding recent data breaches and exposures to see if you may have been affected