ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Hackers are stealing and selling explicit photos from social media accounts.
- The hackers use social engineering and other tactics to gain access.
- Avoid posting any such images and watch for potential hacking attempts.
The FBI has issued warnings about cybercriminals exploiting explicit images stored on social media and personal accounts.
These attackers breach accounts to obtain sensitive photos, which they then sell on the dark web alongside personal information like names, birthdates, and contact details.
Once obtained, the images are used for sextortion campaigns, where victims are blackmailed, causing further harm.
Hackers employ three primary methods to access accounts:
- Exploiting leaked password databases with cracking tools.
- Impersonating customer service to trick users into resetting passwords.
- Using phishing emails that mimic official communications.
To mitigate risks, the FBI advises:
- Avoid storing sensitive images on public platforms.
- Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication.
- Do not click on unsolicited links in messages.
- Verify unexpected requests for password changes via official channels.
- Use desktop devices to inspect suspicious links for irregularities.
- Never share login credentials, even if requested by claimed support teams.