A challenge called "Invisible Challenge" is trending on TikTok, where
people film themselves naked while using a special effect filter that
basically removes the character's body from the video, leaving only a blurred
outline image of it.
After the challenge became a trend, a lot of people started searching for ways
to remove that TikTok filter from the videos to see what they weren't meant to
see. Anyone with a little bit of understanding of how video editing works can
realize that such things are not possible (at least not in the way they want it)
Hackers saw this demand, and they started posting TikTok videos with links to
a fake software called "unfilter" that claimed to be able to remove that
TikTok filter from videos.
Those links will take you to a page asking you to join the "Space Unfilter"
Discord server which contains NSFW videos claimed to be the result of
"Unfilter" software.
If you follow all the instructions to get the "unfilter" software, you will
end up installing a WASP stealer malware on your machine. All your Discord
accounts, crypto wallets, credit cards, and whatever else you think is
valuable will be stolen before you know it.
"Over 30,000 members have joined the Discord server created by the attackers
so far and this number continues to increase as this attack is
ongoing," Guy Nachson, a supply chain security researcher at Checkmarx
said in a
blog post.
Not so long ago, the word "hacker" was used to describe a person who
loves to experiment with technology.
Now, the word "hacker" is used to describe a person who illegally uses
another person's computer for illicit purposes without that person's
knowledge. For that, a special thanks goes to the media, which has consistently used the term only to describe the bad guys (if you couldn't tell, I'm being sarcastic).
The Problem
We all know how complicated computers have become in recent years and,
unfortunately, people with bad motives will have greater chances to use them
in illicit activities.
It's not always possible for computer experts to identify weak spots in your
computer code. And, that is what hackers are very good at. They will try to
find these weak spots and cause damage to your computer.
I should also add that not all hackers are bad. Some do so for good
intentions, such as helping computer engineers in identifying weak spots and
fixing issues.
Types of Hackers
Now that you know what hacking means, there are different types of hackers out
there:
White Hat Hackers: These hackers adopt moral standards. They
are legally allowed to hack a computer system and their main goal is to
find weak spots and enhance the security system in a given computer.
Black Hat Hackers: These people participate in criminal
activity in order to take advantage of computer systems and benefit
themselves.
Grey Hat Hackers: They hack with good intentions, but they
still may not have done it all in a legal or moral way.
Why Do People Hack?
Here are the top reasons why hackers do what they do.
Quick Cash: Bank cards and online data sales are two common
sources of motivation for hackers.
Improved Security Systems: This is done by white hat
hackers for moral reasons. They break into systems to check for security
flaws.
Hacktivism: What does that mean? It is when people hack
other computer systems for political reasons.
Just for Fun: Some people consider hacking a hobby.
What Happens When a Computer is Hacked?
Hackers can steal your identity and have access to your personal
information.
Then, they might use your own account to participate in illegal activity.
How to Protect Yourself Against Hackers
If a professional hacker wants to get into a device, he/she is going to find
a way to break into that device one way or another, it's just a question of
time. The only thing you can do is make it as hard as possible for them to
hack you. Here are some tips on how to do that:
Install the latest updates on your computer, including anti-virus
software.
Create a different password for each account you have
Always use secure WiFi connections.
Backup your PC data regularly
I hope that now you have a good understanding of what hacking is. Technology
can be used for good and bad. Make sure you use it for good!
Ransomware operators now have a new weapon called "AXLocker" in
their already impressive arsenal. According to researchers at
Cyble, this ransomware isn't particularly sophisticated beyond the fact that it is
good at stealing Discord tokens from a victim's machine.
After infecting the machine, it starts encrypting essential files and then
sends the victim's sensitive information such as Computer name,
Username, Machine IP address, System UUID, and
Discord tokens to the operator's server. It then displays a
ransom note like the one shown below.
"This ransomware uses the AES encryption algorithm to encrypt files".
"We observed that the ransomware does not change the file name or extension
after the encryption," researchers said in a
blog post.
Following recent cyber attacks, Australia's Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said on Sunday that the government is looking at outlawing the payment of ransom to cyber criminals.
By outlawing ransom payments, the government hopes to make it more difficult for cybercriminals to profit from their activities. This is a welcome move by the government, and one that will hopefully help to reduce the incidence of cybercrime in Australia.
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