OTT platforms big target for cybercriminals who look to take advantage of streaming wars

The users on streaming services need to be extra careful as OTT platforms are being the next big target for cybercriminals. According to researchers at Kaspersky, more than 5000 of its users were exposed to various threats between January 2019 and April 8, 2020, while trying to access a specific streaming platform via the unofficial files that used its name. 

With the growing popularity of streaming services, these platforms—and their original shows—are increasingly exploited by cybercriminals as a way to launch various attacks. These range from phishing attacks aimed at collecting account credentials and financial information to using the names of these platforms and their shows as a lure to trick users into downloading various threats, including adware and malware.

The Kaspersky researchers found that a total of 5,577 users were exposed to various threats while attempting to gain access to these platforms through unofficial means via files that used the names of these platforms as a lure. In total, there were 23,936 attempts to infect these users with various threats. 

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Kaspersky researchers also examined the cyber threats associated with original content on these platforms. Upon examining 25 original shows across the five platforms, they found that the five shows used most frequently by cybercriminals as a lure were: 

The Mandalorian

Stranger Things 

The Witcher

Sex Education 

Orange is the New Black

A total of 4,502 Kaspersky users were exposed to various threats via malicious files that contained the name of one of these five shows as lure, with a total of 18,947 infection attempts registered. 

“The so-called ‘streaming wars’ have only just begun, and as the popularity of these platforms grows, so too will the attention they receive from malicious users. This is particularly true since many of the platforms are experiencing unprecedented growth as a result of stay-at-home orders and employees being forced to work from home. While users may be tempted to search for alternative methods of watching their favorite content online rather than paying for another subscription, to stay safe, the best option is always to access the platforms and their shows via official sources,” comments Anton Ivanov, malware analyst, Kaspersky.