Recent Media and Entertainment Cyber Attacks

Researchers say scammers are using Google Play’s “Early Access” listings to push deceptive Android apps that don’t show public ratings or warnings. Victims are lured by TikTok/Facebook ads promising cash rewards or free casino spins, but the apps primarily bombard users with ads and never deliver…

Scammers are filing fake copyright complaints to get Instagram accounts temporarily suspended, then demanding money to “withdraw” the complaint and restore access. Victims are pushed to communicate off-platform (for example, on Telegram) and asked to pay in cryptocurrency, yet even paying doesn’t…

Researchers found hundreds of paid ads running across Meta platforms that promoted “nudification”/face‑swap apps and included abusive sexual content involving minors, including some using real children’s photos pulled from the web. The ads used manipulative marketing text (for example, claiming…

Attackers are tricking Minecraft players into downloading malware by cloning legitimate mod/client websites and manipulating search results so the malicious pages appear highly ranked. Even after the malware’s command-and-control systems were disrupted, the fake sites and trusted file-hosting links…

Researchers observed flirty spam accounts on X (Twitter) using scripted conversations, and possibly AI-generated replies and voice notes, to build trust and move targets toward Discord and paid adult-content pages. The accounts asked repetitive “getting to know you” questions, handled unusual…

Researchers tied several new programs to the REVSTEALER Windows info-stealer that can steal crypto wallet data, hijack clipboard crypto addresses, and even disable Windows Update and Microsoft Defender to run a crypto miner. Victims are primarily pulled in through “game-cheat” downloads promoted by…

X is investigating a wave of unsolicited password-reset emails and codes being sent to users, which may be attackers trying to take over accounts as X Money becomes more available. X says it has found no evidence of a breach or successful account takeovers so far, but warns the reset-email “flood”…

Users reported getting repeated, unsolicited password-reset emails from X after the launch of X Money. The emails appear legitimate, but attackers may be using them to confuse users and then send follow-up phishing messages that lead to fake X login pages to steal credentials. There is no confirmed…

Researchers found a real malicious ad campaign on Meta platforms (and reused on TikTok) that pushed a fake “free TV streaming” service to Spanish-speaking users, mainly in Spain. Clicking the ad led to a tailored website that coached Android users through installing an app from outside Google Play,…

Microsoft reports a real campaign where attackers set up look-alike software download websites (impersonating known brands) to trick employees into installing trojanized “installers.” Once run, the malware persists on the device, weakens security settings, and connects to attacker-controlled…

Researchers say a Chinese-speaking cybercrime group compromised Brazilian government and education websites and used them as “trusted” entry points to quietly redirect visitors to attacker-run phishing pages. The fake pages impersonated well-known app stores (Google Play, Microsoft Store, Amazon)…

The FBI warns attackers are impersonating public figures on messaging apps and email to trick targets into approving a malicious OAuth app. Victims are sent links that lead to real Microsoft or Google login/consent screens, where approving access grants attackers ongoing access to emails and files.…

Malwarebytes reports that scammers are increasingly tailoring different scams to the platforms where they work best, like unpaid-toll lures via email/SMS, romance scams via social media, and IRS scams via phone calls. The report highlights heavy brand and celebrity impersonation (including MrBeast)…

Check Point Research reports a real campaign where a Chinese-speaking actor compromised Brazilian government and education websites and used them as stealthy “front doors” to redirect visitors to attacker-controlled phishing pages. The fake pages impersonate trusted app stores (Google Play,…

University researchers found large numbers of deceptive “software” ads (including scareware) running through Google’s ad system, generating over 100 million impressions in Europe. They reported some ads via Google’s “Report this ad” flow, but several ads were acknowledged as policy violations and…

Microsoft reports an active campaign where attackers set up counterfeit software download pages that mimic well-known brands and trick users into installing malware. Victims visit a look-alike vendor site, click “Download now,” then run a bundled installer that drops persistent malware and connects…

The FBI warns of an ongoing social-engineering campaign targeting high-profile individuals and their contacts through a commercial messaging app. Attackers impersonate trusted people (e.g., government officials, journalists) and send links that trick victims into approving OAuth access to a…

Investigators described a real, long-running SEO poisoning operation (“BengalSEO”) that manipulates search results to push victims to fake support and activation pages. The pages impersonate well-known consumer brands, then route visitors through redirects and CAPTCHA checks to either download…

A scam website posing as a GTA 6 fan countdown page tricks visitors into buying a “leaked copy” and then prompts them to connect a crypto wallet. Once connected, it generates transactions/approvals designed to transfer the victim’s cryptocurrency (and potentially NFTs) to the attacker. The site…

A malicious GitHub repository impersonating Anthropic advertised a “free” Claude Opus 5 desktop app and tricked users into downloading a ZIP that silently installed RevStealer. Victims reported account takeovers after running it, and the malware is designed to steal passwords, crypto wallet data,…