- Sep 5, 2017
- 1,195
Pirated content is a plentiful resource for malware, and that should come as no surprise to people who are already accessing it. It’s easy to imagine that the main threat might be represented by cracked software and other installers. However, that’s not always the case. Attackers have been increasingly using an older tactic -- slipping malware with torrents that promise unaired TV shows and movies.
Malware is everywhere
If you were to perform a Google search for cracked software, there’s a very good chance you would download malware and not what you’re actually looking for. In many cases, attackers create websites that promise exactly the crack for the software you’re looking for, down to the correct version number.
Another common tactic is to ask for personal information with the promise of unlocking the download file. All of these are to be expected on regular websites that promote cracked content and, implicitly, malware.
But what about torrent trackers? There’s no guarantee the cracked content downloaded from a torrent will be free of malware. At least, people might be on guard when downloading software from such places.
The problem is that torrent tracker users are not likely to show the same caution when downloading TV shows and movies, and this is precisely what attackers want.
Pirated video content can be dangerous
Bitdefender has observed an increase in the number of torrents promising pirated multimedia content that also contains malware. In most situations, the uploader offers an episode of an anticipated TV show that hasn’t aired yet, hoping to attract people actively looking for it.
The download size looks right, and the usual naming scheme is respected, making the torrent more appealing. If the user goes through with the download, he will find that it’s not quite what he asked for.
Complete article URL : Torrents with Pirated TV Shows Used to Push Lumma Stealer Malware
