The Twitter accounts of major companies and individuals were compromised on Wednesday (17 July) in one of the most widespread breaches the platform has ever seen...
...all in service of promoting a bitcoin scam that earned its creators nearly $120,000, according to The Verge.
Photo via MacMost
Following the unprecedented hacks of accounts including that of former President Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Kanye West, Michael Bloomberg, and Apple - we’re not sure if social media is a safe place for us to be sharing all our personal information!
Cybersecurity expert at Kaspersky, Dmitry Bestuzhev said: “Within just two hours at least 367 users transferred around 120,000 dollars in total to attackers. Cybersecurity is undoubtedly one of the top priorities of all major social media platforms, and put efforts in preventing many attacks every day.”
He urged everyone not to panic, and simply accept a new mindset that social media account users require a responsible approach and thorough protection.
“This incident might mean we all need to take some time to reassess our approach to our relationships with social media and account security, but once we do it, it will become evident that we possess knowledge and instruments to recognize even the most elaborate scam and minimize its impact,” he said.
Though there are dangers lurking on the internet, that does not mean we have to stop using ir completely. Try to learn how to recognize scams in social media and keep in mind:
1. The most important element of any scam is a time limit.
Not only that it prevents the victim from conducting a thorough check on the matter, but it also adds some psychological pressure on the user making it easier for them to overlook details.
2. Scam can also be thoroughly tailored to the personality of the owner or the tone of voice of the hacked account, which will make it seem legitimate.
Attackers might even go further and illustrate the scam with an authentically looking design or use deep fakes.
3. It is highly unlikely that any official enterprise or established individual will ask you to transfer money, even to return them later, even as a joke due to possible issues with taxes and financial reporting.
So, users should always be vigilant and aware of these type of scams and try to maximize the protection of your account, by:
1. Having a strong password. This is very important!
It should be unique, so that if other websites leaks your credentials, your accounts remain safe. To create a safe and complicated password to each website, use memory techniques or a password manager.
2. Having two-factor authentication
When logging in, passwords need to be confirmed by entering a special code. Consider not using a text message to receive this code as it can be hijacked. Alternatively, use a physical key connected to the separate device through USB cable or NFC.
The concept of two-factor authentication has become more mainstream, with the most common type being SMS-based. However, scammers have found a way of intercepting those texts. https://kas.pr/uh3i
Posted by Kaspersky on Tuesday, July 14, 2020
3. Have a thorough review of the apps that have access to Twitter accounts. They can be found in Twitter account settings.
It is recommended that you revoke any access to your accounts, or the ones that you don’t consider thoroughly protected so that in case of an attack, your account can’t be reached.
Billions of people use the internet every single day, and knowing how to stay safe while using it is vital! So, always be sure to verify the sites you visit on the internet.
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
