Spotify abused to promote pirated software and game cheats (www.bleepingcomputer.com)
from Joker@sh.itjust.works to technology@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 10:41
https://sh.itjust.works/post/28312649

Spotify playlists and podcasts are being abused to push pirated software, game cheat codes, spam links, and “warez” sites.

By injecting targeted keywords and links in playlist names and podcast descriptions, threat actors may benefit from boosting SEO for their dubious online properties, since Spotify’s web player results appear in search engines like Google.

#technology

threaded - newest

jdw@links.mayhem.academy on 19 Nov 11:04 next collapse

“Warez”. That’s a name I’ve not heard for a long time.

rikudou@lemmings.world on 19 Nov 11:25 next collapse

<img alt="I was there Gandalf, 3000 years ago" src="https://lemmings.world/pictrs/image/d8137f35-4d6b-40af-940f-a7b8e0ded2b1.jpeg">

P1nkman@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 11:39 next collapse

Now let’s bring back astalavista 🤘

Kolanaki@yiffit.net on 19 Nov 11:42 collapse

With a name like that, they’ll be back.

francisfordpoopola@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 13:02 collapse

A long time.

Engywuck@lemm.ee on 19 Nov 12:12 next collapse

lol

undefined@lemmy.hogru.ch on 19 Nov 23:18 collapse

Yeah, this is more funny than anything. Very creative problem-solving on their part.

Absaroka@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 13:26 next collapse

I enjoy that they’re focusing on ‘promoting pirated software and game cheats’ before talking about malware first.

Cybersecurity ethusiast Karol Paciorek who spotted the playlist said, “cybercriminals exploit Spotify for malware distribution. Why? Spotify has a strong reputation and its pages are easily indexed by search engines, making it an effective platform to promote malicious links.”

That’s a very different, more helpful story. “Watch out, Spotify links are being used to distribute malware to your computer.”

When abusing platforms, spammers and scammers leave no stone unturned to promote their agenda.

Money. They aren’t doing this as part of a ‘peons of the world unite to steal software’ scheme. They’re doing it to generate traffic so they make more ad revenue.

Jarix@lemmy.world on 20 Nov 02:12 collapse

Imagine how much healthier things would be if ads were illegal and using them was punishable by having your business auctioned off and the proceeds going to free legal services for the bottom 50% of society

Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works on 19 Nov 14:00 next collapse

Spotify’s business model is abusing artists .

Tattorack@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 14:43 next collapse

Oh! We’re reviving “warez”? Nice!

SplashJackson@lemmy.ca on 19 Nov 16:25 collapse

I’d always pronounced it “where-azz” and I’m not sure I could ever switch to “wares”

Texas_Hangover@sh.itjust.works on 19 Nov 16:51 next collapse

My best friend back in the day pronounced it WAR-EZ. It was a constant point of contention between us.

SplashJackson@lemmy.ca on 19 Nov 19:23 next collapse

Sounds like your best friend is me! Surprise!

burgersc12@mander.xyz on 19 Nov 21:53 collapse

I think War-ez sounds cool

Tattorack@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 16:59 collapse

Hah! So I’m not the only one!

sunzu2@thebrainbin.org on 19 Nov 15:30 next collapse

Malware is the issue, I don't see any issue with libre content being promoted to the plebs.

Sabata11792@ani.social on 19 Nov 18:07 next collapse

If i find out about a piracy site though any means other than word of mouth and my own research, I assume it’s fake and malicious.

uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 20 Nov 00:12 collapse

TIL game cheats is a category of deplorable that belongs with pirates sofware and warez.

I remember looking on line to unlock game cheats for Saints Row IV specifically to turn off the downstage pixellation effect and found that this was the most common SR4 cheat in use.