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Live-streaming viewers exposed to malware, data theft: Study
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Despite knowing that watching free live-streams pose risks, many viewers might not be aware of the real dangers lurking. (Shutterstock/-)
T
hose watching live-streaming websites are vulnerable to malware infections, personal data theft and scams, according to a study by KU Leuven-iMinds and Stony Brook University.
Live-streaming websites lure viewers to watch events online, whether sporting events, parties, TV channels or others. Despite the risks of viewing free live-streams, many viewers might not be aware of the real dangers lurking. Among the schemes include putting overlaid ads with fake “close” buttons to the online video that may trick viewers into downloading malicious malware.
Researchers from both universities stated that 50 percent of the videos may infect the viewer’s personal device with malware, and may steal personal data and increase the potential of them becoming a victim of financial scams.
(Read also: Computers, not humans to scan carry-on bags in TSA test)
The study itself reportedly used a semi-automated tool that helped researchers identify more than 23,000 free live-streaming websites, corresponding with over 5,600 domain names.
“Most of these pages are made to look like the actual free live-streaming websites. That’s how they try to get users to install malware; users are tricked into believing they need special software to watch the live stream,” said M. Zubair Rafique from KU Leuven department of computer science in Belgium.
He added that Google Chrome and Safari were among the most popular web browsers scammers targeted to steal data.
As a solution, the researchers reportedly had built a tool to help security analysts find and report unknown free live-streaming websites to curb copyright and trademark infringement, which will become available for further studies. (kes)
