Cybercriminals are leveraging Barbie’s big screen debut to spread malware and steal the personal data of unsuspecting victims.
In a blog post on July 20, computer security software company McAfee warned about various online scams that take advantage of the surging interest in the Barbie movie.
McAfee provided examples of these scams, including fake movie download links that infect victims’ devices with malware and YouTube videos of scammers offering bogus Barbie tickets and directing victims to download files that contain information stealers and other malware.
“In the last 3 weeks, we’ve seen 100 new instances of malware that have Barbie-related filenames. Once again, this shows how attackers have latched onto the movie’s hype, hoping the people will click the malicious files because the Barbie name is trending,” McAfee said.
Cybercriminals “often leverage popular and well-publicized events such as movie premieres, concerts or sporting events to trick users into clicking on malicious links,” CTO of McAfee Steve Grobman explained in the blog post.
A Surge in Barbie-Related Scams
According to McAfee, there has been a surge in malware with Barbie-related filenames. These files include .html (web page) and .exe (system executables). While most attacks focus on the U.S. (37%), other countries, including Australia, Brazil, India, the UK, and Spain, have also been targeted.
In India, scammers are luring people to click on malicious links by claiming to offer Barbie in local languages. McAfee shared a screenshot of one of these scam pages that reads, “Barbie Movie In Tamil Free Download [CRACKED].” When targets click on the link, it downloads an infected .zip file.
Another popular scam involves fraudulent videos that redirect victims to a Discord server or website, McAfee noted. Victims are prompted to download a malware-loaded .exe file, often containing an info stealer malware like Redline Stealer. This malware collects data about victims’ personal details, login credentials, and more. This data is used to commit identity fraud and is often sold on dark web marketplaces.
McAfee shared the video below, which claims to offer free tickets to the Barbie movie when targets visit a Discord site. The link to the Discord page was added in the video description.
How to Defend Yourself Against Barbie Scams
To avoid falling victim to Barbie scams, McAfee urges movie lovers to stick to trusted retailers and streamers, purchase tickets from recognized theater chains or reputable ticketing apps, and scrutinize the quality of websites for signs of scams. McAfee also recommends using a comprehensive cybersecurity solution.
We’ve tested several online safety tools over the years. Check out our guide to the best antivirus software to learn about our experience with these tools and see our top picks.
For added safety, we recommend using a solid virtual private network (VPN), keeping your operating system and other software up to date, and using a firewall. Check out our guide to staying safe online for more cyber hygiene tips.
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