FBI says cybercriminals are hacking into victims’ online accounts to steal their intimate pictures
The FBI has issued a warning regarding a rise in cybercriminals hacking social media accounts to steal and extort victims using intimate images. The agency advises users to implement multi-factor authentication and avoid storing sensitive content online.
Why it matters
The increasing prevalence of sextortion and digital harassment poses a significant public health and safety risk, particularly to minors.
The FBI is warning that cybercriminals are hacking into the social media accounts of adults and children to steal their intimate explicit images and videos.
The perpetrators rely largely on social engineering tactics to target people, the alert said, and victims are often extorted, or their stolen content published online.
“Victims often face re-victimization through harassment, sextortion, stalking or other targeted attacks, such as advertising stolen content on a victim’s own social media page,” the FBI wrote.
These types of crimes have been known for years . But the FBI’s public alert could indicate that these incidents are now on the rise, according to Rachel Tobac, the CEO of the security awareness training firm SocialProof Security. The FBI did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.
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