Squid Game scams, malware pop up online to lure fans — what you need to do

Squid Game scams, malware pop upwards online to lure fans — what y'all need to do

The armed guards walking through rows of Squid Game competitors

(Image credit: Youngkyu Park)

The massive popularity of the Netflix evidence Squid Game has been noticed by cybercriminals who are crafting Windows and Android malware to take reward of the show's appeal.

"Squid Game themed Android Joker," tweeted ESET security researcher Lukas Stefanko last week, warning of a new variant of the Joker premium-SMS malware in the Google Play App store. "Running this app on device might event in malicious ad-fraud and/or unwanted SMS subscription actions."

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Meanwhile, rival antivirus firm Kaspersky said its researchers had recently found "several dozen dissimilar malicious files on the spider web with names mentioning Squid Game" that included "Trojans, adware, imitation streams and even phishy offers of Halloween costumes."

Squid Game themed Android Joker1) downloads and executes native lib2) native lib downloads and executes apk payloadRunning this app on device might consequence in malicious ad-fraud and/or unwanted SMS subscription actionshttps://t.co/PTDtPlUkBy moving picture.twitter.com/AFs8gkEuabOctober 19, 2021

"The Squid Game becoming a new hit lure was just a question of time," said Kaspersky'south Anton V. Ivanov. "As with any other trending topic, cybercriminals accept a good hunch virtually what is going to piece of work and what isn't."

How to avoid Squid Game scams

To avoid being infected by or lured in by Squid Game scams or malware, don't download or install anything on a Windows PC that offers to show you pirated episodes or testify-related games.

On Android, stick to the official Google Play store and don't get apps from other sources. And make sure you're running some of the best Windows 10 antivirus programs and one of the all-time Android antivirus apps.

Many of the malicious files pretend to be episodes of the show or related animated clips, luring in people who don't have Netflix accounts or who simply tin can't get enough Squid Game.

Virtually are in fact "downloaders" that can install more malicious files on Windows systems, Kaspersky said. Some steal passwords and other sensitive information from desktop web browsers.

Kaspersky described a Squid Game-related Android Trojan that opens new browsers tabs or secretly sends out SMS letters from infected phones, perhaps spam or new links to download itself.

"This Trojan is distributed in unofficial app stores and various portals under the guise of other popular applications, games, and books," Kaspersky said.

The malicious app mentioned by Stefanko, however, has been removed from the Google Play Store.

Bogus Squid Game Halloween costumes

Another danger, warned Kaspersky, is fake Squid Game online stores. Reports of shortages of Squid Game Halloween costumes may exist creating more need, and fraudulent retailers are springing upwardly offering but such items.

But, says Kaspersky, "when shopping on such sites, users risk not receiving the trade and losing their money."

"Moreover, targets end up sharing with cybercriminals their banking and personal identity information since they are asked to provide card details and personal data, including an email address, residence address, and total proper noun."

In the most 2021 scam of all, several websites institute by Kaspersky let visitors play online versions of Squid Game competitions in order to "win" prizes in cryptocurrency such as 100 Binance coin. (Binance is under investigation by the U.Southward. Department of Justice and the Internal Acquirement Service for possible tax evasion and money laundering.)

It seems that competitors have to likewise provide some personal details, which are at risk from this phishing scheme.

"Needless to say, the player never receives the promised reward and ends up losing their data or downloading malware," Kaspersky said.

Paul Wagenseil is a senior editor at Tom's Guide focused on security and privacy. He has also been a dishwasher, fry melt, long-booty driver, code monkey and video editor. He'southward been rooting around in the information-security space for more xv years at FoxNews.com, SecurityNewsDaily, TechNewsDaily and Tom's Guide, has presented talks at the ShmooCon, DerbyCon and BSides Las Vegas hacker conferences, shown up in random Television receiver news spots and even chastened a panel discussion at the CEDIA domicile-technology conference. Y'all tin follow his rants on Twitter at @snd_wagenseil.