The Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) has warned those looking to acquire pirated software and resources that they risk becoming victims of cybercriminal gangs using AI-generated YouTube videos to distribute malware.
NCC-CSIRT further warned in its advisory that the consequences of falling victim could be significant for individuals and organizations, resulting in critical damage like data theft, financial loss, identity theft, system damage, and reputation damage.
It said unsuspecting victims who watch these AI-generated tutorial videos would be duped into clicking on one of the links in the video description, which usually results in the download of data-stealing malware. The number of YouTube videos containing such links has increased by 200-300% per month since November 2022.
According to the advisory, “To stimulate the interest of potential victims, video tutorials on sought-after pirating software such as AutoCAD, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, and other similar paid-for software are created. These videos are created with AI and feature humans with facial features that research has shown other humans find trustworthy.
“The tutorials in these videos are frequently bogus and steer viewers to links in the description that led to information-stealing malware like Raccoon, Vidar, and RedLine,” the advisory revealed.
Malicious actors can create AI-generated videos that include hidden or disguised malware. These videos may appear harmless or entertaining, but they can contain malicious code that can infect a viewer’s device when the video is downloaded or played.
Cybercriminal actors can also use AI-generated videos to trick viewers into downloading malware. For example, they can create a video that appears to be a legitimate software update or security patch but contains malware that infects the viewer’s device.
They equally use AI-generated videos to distribute phishing scams. They can create a video that appears to be from a legitimate company or organization and prompts viewers to click on a link to enter their login credentials or personal information. Once the viewer clicks on the link, they are directed to a fake website that steals their information.
Additionally, malicious actors can use AI-generated videos to distribute ransomware. They can create a video that appears to be harmless. Still, when the viewer clicks on a link or downloads a file associated with the video, their device becomes infected with ransomware that locks them out of their files and demands payment to regain access.
NCC-CSIRT said that telecom consumers should avoid downloading pirated software because it is generally harmful and illegal to avoid becoming a victim.
Furthermore, the advisory recommends installing antivirus software with internet security and keeping it up to date, installing a comprehensive endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution, and thinking before clicking any link.
