Ad makers beware: Facebook has become a cybercrime playground! Meta’s platform was reportedly used to distribute malware through advertising in a super sneaky campaign. These hackers have no chill, stealing and selling cookies that let you access online accounts on the black market *gasp*. It’s like a twisted episode of Cookie Monster’s nightmare. They’re really keeping up with the times too, using more advanced techniques like cloaking to make sure their malicious plans don’t get caught – guess they know they’ve got to stay ahead in the online crime game.
Even Facebook’s ads weren’t hiding in plain sight. The advertiser’s names were all “OpenAI” or “GPT” wannabes, but surprise-surprise, OpenAI confirmed they didn’t post them. Some even had the audacity to pretend to be Google’s Bard chat tool. Cheeky! It’s like undercover agents in the ad world, with the not-so-hidden password 888. In late March, searching for “password 888” on Facebook’s ad library led to 59 active examples. Talk about an invasion!
But why are these ads appearing? Meta spokesperson Margarita Franklin says catching these cybercriminals is like playing an elaborate game of Whack-a-Mole, as they constantly evade detection. Facebook tries to bring the hammer down, with automated systems working on blocking their moves and spreading important details across the industry. It’s definitely keeping ad watchers on their toes!
These cyber-baddies sure know how to have a good time, using Facebook’s ad targeting tools to rope in unsuspecting victims. Simply target those interested in online marketing or those who admin Facebook pages (aka the ones with access to Facebook ad accounts), and voilà – potential targets galore! These crafty criminals make it look easy.
Noam Tal, CTO of cybersecurity firm Guardio, says there’s a “huge security gap” that traditional security tools like anti-virus software can’t fix. Guardio aims to fill that gap, but in the meantime, it’s a wild west of malware and cybercrime on the internet. Beware of the cookie snatchers, y’all!
In other cyber news, Israeli spyware QuaDream has got its tentacles in at least 10 countries, according to a report by Microsoft and nonprofit CitizenLab. The secretive app has been used to hack iPhone users like minority party politicians and journalists. That’s some serious international intrigue!
Anne Keast-Butler breaks barriers by becoming the first woman to lead Britain’s GCHQ. Finally, a woman stepping into the role of chief after 16 men since 1919 – you go, girl! It’s not going to be an easy gig, though, with the challenge of differentiating GCHQ’s intelligence work from the plethora of open-source intel on the web.
And in an ironic twist of fate, a Russian hacker who broke into Democratic emails in 2016 has himself been hacked, according to Ukrainian hackers (I guess karma does exist in the cyber world). They claim to have breached the email account of Lt. Col. Sergey Morgachev, who was charged with organizing the hack and leak of emails from the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign. It’s like a soap opera of spies, hacks, and leaks in the cyber realm.
That’s it for today’s Cyber Digest, filled with hackers, cybercriminals, and international intrigue. Grab your popcorn and stay tuned for the next über-dramatic chapter of digital life. Don’t forget to log off securely, and see you tomorrow!
