The FBI has issued a warning about the theft of intimate photos due to social media hacks
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a warning about cyberattacks targeting the social media accounts of adults and children, with the aim of stealing intimate photos and videos. According to TechCrunch, the attackers may demand money from their victims or post the stolen material online.
The FBI’s warning notes that the attackers rely heavily on social engineering techniques. Among the described attack methods are password brute-force attacks using passwords from data breaches or those previously used, as well as impersonating support staff from Instagram and other social media platforms.
Attackers may also contact users under the pretext of needing to recover an account. Another method involves phishing emails with fake domains that mimic social media login pages.
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The FBI has stated that victims may be subjected to repeated harassment, sexual blackmail, stalking, and other targeted attacks. In particular, stolen content may be advertised on the victim’s social media page. Rachel Toback, CEO of SocialProof Security, said that such attacks specifically target young men and, in some cases, can drive victims to self-harm.
The agency advises using unique passwords stored in a password manager, enabling multi-factor authentication, and being cautious of unexpected messages purportedly from social media platform representatives. The FBI also recommends not storing sensitive or intimate images in online accounts.
