Facebook, Twitter user? Beware of malware attacks; here is what you should do

Facebook and Twitter users are being targetted by malware attacks! Here are the ways to avoid it.

Clickjacking attacks are being launched against Facebook users, while spambots target Twitter users. (AFP)

Are you a social media addict? Do you love sharing, connecting with friends, and scrolling Facebook or Twitter posts for hours every day? Perhaps, not an addict, but you must surely be spending considerable time and energy on these, and other, social media platforms like Telegram, Signal, Instagram or WhatsApp. But did you know of the dangers that these networks pose, such as malware, phishing attacks, and identity theft. Not directly, but indirectly when certain unscrupulous people make fraudulent posts with the intention of cheating users.  All these apps have security systems in place, but the fraudsters do manage to bypass them through various means.

The popularity and reach of these two social network platforms is the key for the cybercriminals to take the advantage of the situation. How? By employing malware or launching phishing attacks to cheat users of money or other personal information. While clickjacking attacks are there on Facebook, spambots are on Twitter. Know about how these attacks are launched against Facebook and Twitter users and what can be done about them.

How these social media phishing attack works?

A clickjacking attack is a sort of cyber-scam that attempts to get you to click on a seemingly harmless link, but these malware designed to redirect you to a web page to steal your personal information. It can even convince you to take part in hidden advertising campaigns or any other action that makes money for cybercriminals.

In the case of Twitter, cybercriminals use spambots, which is an automated malware designed to assist in the sending a lot tweets. They are usually links to videos, photos, or even PC repair tools that appear to be safe. However, if you click on them, you will be taken to a malicious website or your account will begin tweeting the same tweet.

How to avoid such social media scams?

• Any Facebook links with terms like "LOL!" "OMG!" or "Amazing!" should be avoided since they almost certainly contain malware. If they were posted by your friends, it's possible that they were tricked.
• If there are links then, examine the URL link thoroughly. if it's a long, catchy sentence separated by dashes, it's best not to click on it.
• In the case of Twitter, look at the Twitter accounts that follow you, if there's one that follows you and thousands of others but mainly tweets affiliate links, it's better to block it right away.
• Install comprehensive internet security software on your computer that can detect, block, and remove any sort of malware with ease.