Cyber criminals target Netflix Again with Ransomware

If you’re planning to free ride your way into binge-watching your favorite shows on Netflix, think again. Your computer’s files may end up getting held hostage.

Since the development and expansion of their streaming service, Netflix has accumulated 93 million-strong subscriber base in more than 190 countries.

So it should not come as a surprise that cybercriminals want a piece of the action. Cyber criminals can steal user credentials that can be monetized in the underground, exploiting vulnerabilities, and more recently infecting systems with Trojans capable of pilfering the user’s financial and personal information.

Trend Micro detected a ransomware RANSOM_ NETIX.A luring Windows/PC users with a Netflix account via a login generator, one of the tools typically used in software and account membership piracy. These programs are usually found on suspicious websites sharing cracked applications and access to premium/paid web-based services.

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The scam is also a reminder of the risks involved in pirating content—may they be movies, music, software, or paid memberships.

Bad guys need only hack a modicum of weakness for which no patch is available—the human psyche. Social engineering is a vital component in this scam, so users should be smarter: don’t download or click ads promising the impossible. If the deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

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This highlights the significance for end users to keep their subscription accounts safe from crooks. Keep to your service provider’s security recommendations. More importantly, practice good security habits: beware of emails you receive pretending to be legitimate, regularly update your credentials, use two-factor authentication, and download only from official sources.