The "Barbie" movie fever is happening around the world with the blockbuster film rolling like a golden ball. While some people enjoy watching it in theaters, others are taking advantage of the hype to steal money from moviegoers.
Over the weekend, cybersecurity firm McAfee discovered that a newborn malware named after the iconic doll is spread across different filenames. What's more, it becomes an outlet for hackers to obtain the victims' data through their phones and PCs.
Scammers Are Deploying Malware to Barbie-Related Links
A child looks at a Barbie-themed computer during the 15th edition of Campus Party, a technology, entrepreneurship, and science festival, in Anhembi, northern Sao Paulo, Brazil, on July 26, 2023.
In an interview with USA Today, McAfee's chief technology officer Steve Grobman, says that there are a lot of fake websites promoting the new "Barbie" movie.
Aside from that, fraudsters are sending malicious links and offers to potential victims. The emails contain Barbie-related file names which are too good to be true. Once opened, the malware will infect the device and the hackers will gain access to the victims' information.
For the past three weeks alone, 37% of malware incidents in the United States are related to the "Barbie" film.
The process of hacking is simple. The scammers lure the moviegoers to click the link which is obviously virus-ridden with the .exe name.
While the files are harmless, the "Redline Stealer" malware worms its way inside the phone or any device and searches for the personal information of the victim including the password and login credentials.
Usually, the link which contains a clip with "Barbie Movie Behind-the-Scenes" or "Barbie the Movie" is the one you should avoid at all costs.
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Avoiding the 'Pink and Plastic' Scheme
Even with extreme vigilance, some people still fall victim to smart scammers. With hackers becoming more innovative in their schemes, it's getting harder to identify which are legit sites from the bogus sites.
To stay safe and chic at the same time as FoxNews writes in its report, you need to avoid visiting suspicious websites that are selling cheap "Barbie" tickets. Instead, go to reputable outlets and retailers to avoid this kind of cybersecurity headache.
Another sign to look at when viewing suspiciously-looking websites is when it asks you about your bank information. If it wants to know your card details, run as fast as you can.
You can enjoy watching your favorite dreamland on "Barbie" and at the same time, saving yourself from being scammed by these "plastic" fraudsters who are just after your hard-earned money.
The movie is not only popular because of the global recognition it received. Tech Times reported last July 25 that even Twitter CEO Elon Musk has an important message to all viewers regarding "Barbie."
The tech billionaire did not mince his words when he said that moviegoers "will pass out before the movie ends."
Read Also: Man Sentenced for Illegal Streaming Access: 85,925 Netflix, Spotify, Hulu Credentials Stolen
