- Computer pirates are increasingly addressed to social networks and content creators
- Their accounts have a huge scope, which criminals can use to implement malware
- Followers are often attracted to cryptographic scams and identity theft
Cybercriminals are increasingly attacking influential people in social networks and other popular people in an attempt to infect their followers with malware, draw them in cryptographic scams or steal their confidential information.
A new Bitdefender report warned that the trend was widespread in 2024, and has now continued in 2025.
The threat actors would first address the influencers of social networks and the creators of content in different ways, the report points out: they could offer false sponsorship offers, False False Video Software of AI or through simple Phishing attacks. If the victim falls in love with the trick and discharge malware, the attackers obtain the login credentials for the different platforms they are using (YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok and others).
Millions of people at risk
Platforms are used to aim at followers in different ways.
For example, Bitdefender says that there were more than 9,000 malicious live broadcasts only on YouTube.
“These transmissions often seem legitimate at first glance, but are controlled by computer pirates that have changed the compromised channels,” they said. The renowned often falsify main names such as Donald Trump, Elon Musk (one of the favorites among cryptographic scammers), Michael Saylor or Brad Garlinghouse.
Researchers believe that this is an important problem, with millions of people at risk. In fact, a committed YouTube account was followed by more than 28 million people, and another committed account has had more than 12 billion opinions in total.
“The amazing number underlines the global scope to which threat actors can access,” Bitdefender added. “If cybercriminals convert only 1% of those opinions, that is equivalent to an amazing amount of 124 million potential victims exposed to scams, malware or data theft.”
During these live broadcasts, criminals would promote malicious domains, which can be used to steal credentials, people cryptocurrency holdings or personal information.
Content creators are advised to harden in security, while followers must be skeptical of everything they see online, including the information that comes from their favorite influencer.
