In the News
In Stress Relief App Turns Stressful for Facebook, Kacy Zurkus discusses a painting application on Facebook that has spurred a malicious attack on over 35,000 accounts. Zurkus elaborates by stating that victims of the attack are sent an email or private message to download the app which contains malicious content hiding behind the advertised purpose of the game. Zurkus states that the the victims of the attack were targeted because their financial information was tied to their Facebook account.
Our Take
Receiving an email or a message urging you to download an app should be a red flag. With all of the apps available, you should be able to go directly to the app store to download an app that looks appealing to you. It is easy to believe that the social media site, in this case Facebook, is matching you with apps that fit your interests, but looks can be deceiving. Often times, malicious attackers disguise themselves as trustworthy sources to lure victims.
Recommendations
So how can you protect your personal information?
- Only download apps that you are familiar with
- Refrain from using links sent through email or messenger apps: use a search engine to locate the legitimate link wherever possible
- Only put the essential information on social media accounts, and refrain from saving your financial information there