The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has cautioned Spotify users about the activities of cybercriminals exploiting the streaming service to promote game hacks and pirated software.
According to NITDA, this misuse of Spotify boosts the visibility of dangerous websites on search engines, increasing the chances that users may encounter scams, malware, or other cyber threats.
“Spotify is being exploited to promote game hacks for video games like Fortnite, GTA, Apex, and Roblox. Threat actors are also using the platform to advertise pirated software (cracks), spam links, and malicious crack sites. They embed these malicious promotions within playlist names and podcast descriptions,” NITDA says.
Impact:
NITDA warns that the exploitation of Spotify’s platform puts users at significant risk, as clicking on these links could lead to downloading pirated software or malicious programs, compromising both device security and personal data.
Preventive Measures:
NITDA has advised users to take the following precautions:
Avoid clicking on links in playlists or podcasts with suspicious or unusual descriptions.
Regularly update Spotify to ensure the latest security patches are installed.
The agency urges users to remain vigilant and exercise caution while using Spotify to avoid falling victim to these cyber threats.
About Spotify
Spotify was launched in 2008 and later expanded into podcasting and audiobooks in 2022. The platform now offers over 100 million tracks, 6 million podcasts, and 350,000 audiobooks. With more than 640 million users, including 252 million subscribers across 180 markets, Spotify is widely used for audio streaming.