Anyone tempted to stream movies such a Barbie, Guardians of the Galaxy and Oppenheimer for free might want to think twice before hitting the play button. New research from the team at NordVPN has found that many of these latest blockbuster releases are currently being used by cyber crooks to install dangerous malware and malicious software onto devices.
Some of these vicious bugs can then be used by hackers to steal personal data, delete files and track what a user is doing online. It’s a serious threat and it appears some films are attracting more attention from cyber thieves than others.
Coming top of the list for malware when trying to stream illegally is Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 with this Marvel film scoring the highest mark for malware concerns. Next up it’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, followed by Barbie and then Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
According to VPN, the worst place to pick up a virus is via links on social media platforms such as Twitter.
Amanda Holden channels Barbie on her holiday
“Malicious links are more commonly found on Twitter than search engines like Google Chrome, which filter out most search results that are obviously copyright infringements,” explained Nord VPN.
Among the most common types of malware are viruses that are tucked inside movie streams are spyware, worms, trojans, adware, scareware, ransomware, and fireless malware.
Watching a film from the comfort of your sofa before its official home release is clearly tempting but it’s not without its dangers – you have been warned.
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Speaking about the latest news, Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity advisor at NordVPN, comments: “Films like Barbie and Oppenheimer have created a huge box office in recent weeks, and it’s not surprising that film fans are desperate to watch summer blockbusters at home. Movie fans need to think twice before searching online, as many of the links contain phishing and malware software and you may end up getting more than you bargained for.
“If nothing else, trying to watch films this way is like searching for a needle in a haystack, with few of the links providing a watchable movie.
“Most of these blockbusters will soon be available on reputable streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video, so we suggest film fans be patient and enjoy these movies safely.
“Always stay cautious when clicking on a link, even on a trustworthy website, and use anti-malware tools like Threat Protection””
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