Hackers use a fake version of Netflix in Arabic for phishing attacks

Dubai: Researchers at Kaspersky Cyber Security Solutions have recently discovered a group of phishing attacks that exploit a malicious website disguised as the Arabic-language Netflix page.

Tatyana Shcherbakova, a security researcher at Kaspersky, confirmed that personal information and the access of data to digital accounts have become "the most valuable digital product at present." Through using the fake website, hackers aim to retrieve the login data of Netflix accounts through phishing attacks, which are harmful and disruptive.

She stressed that "this data can be sold on the dark web if the user has a prepaid subscription, or can be used later to add credibility to malicious schemes via e-mail, such as asking users to pay money to restore their account, or for blackmail.”

Further risks arise when the login data is the same for other important accounts, which can allow criminals to hack social media accounts or e-mails, and possibly even bank accounts.

According to the Help Centre of Netflix, there are a few simple ways to keep your account and personal information safe:

Kaspersky recommended a number of steps that residents can take to avoid falling victim to phishing attempts. The most important one is to always verify the web addresses contained in unknown or unexpected messages, whether it is the address of the website or a hyperlink attached in the message.

Avoid entering your login data when you are not sure if the website is authentic. However, if you accidentally do so, immediately change your password and contact your bank or payment service provider if you suspect that the card details have been compromised.