Scammers Are Hijacking Government Websites to Post Fake Adult Content Ads
Criminals are breaking into official government websites and posting fake advertisements that lead to malicious links and scams targeting visitors.
Source
WIRED Security
Original headline: OnlyFans Models Are Accidentally Making Hacked Government Websites Disappear
Plain-English summary by GetCyberRight. Read the full report at the source above.
Scammers have been breaking into government websites and uploading fake advertisements claiming to offer leaked adult content from OnlyFans creators. When people click on these ads, they are directed to malicious websites that can steal personal information or install harmful software. These fake ads have appeared on legitimate government websites, making them look more trustworthy to visitors. Adult content creators have been filing copyright complaints against these hijacked pages, which has actually helped remove the malicious links faster. This could affect anyone who visits government websites for services like renewing licenses, paying taxes, looking up public records, or accessing local community information. If you or your family members clicked on any suspicious ads or links on what appeared to be an official government site, your computer could be infected with malware.
Your personal information, including usernames, passwords, or credit card details, might have been stolen if you entered them on a fake page after clicking one of these ads. If you recently visited any government website and clicked on ads or unfamiliar links, take action now. First, run a full virus and malware scan on your computer or phone using your antivirus software. Second, change your passwords for any accounts where you use the same password, especially banking and email accounts. Third, check your credit card and bank statements for any charges you do not recognize. Fourth, avoid clicking on any advertisements or pop-ups that appear on government websites, even if they look legitimate.
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To stay safe when using government websites, always verify you are on the official site by carefully checking the web address in your browser. Government sites typically end in .gov. Bookmark the government websites you use regularly and access them through your bookmarks instead of search results. Never click on ads that appear on government pages. Use an ad blocker in your web browser to prevent these advertisements from appearing in the first place.
Remember that legitimate government websites will never advertise adult content or similar services.
Curated from trusted cybersecurity sources by GetCyberRight
Source: WIRED SecurityStay ahead of cyber threats
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