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Malicious tags, don’t click on it! It may be a scam link tag and can expose your sensitive information to cyber-criminals. If someone tags you in a post with a provocative headline or a weird link, think twice before clicking on it. It might be a scam.
“I can’t believe he’s gone. I’ll miss him so much” read the Facebook notification a woman received. Next to these words was a link. Alas, no one died, but someone got hacked.
The woman started receiving strange messages––some from her friends––alerting her that she got hacked. Then, she received a message from an unknown person telling her that they would help her for $100. Fortunately, the woman didn’t go through with the suspicious proposal.
However, her Facebook account was already compromised and, as she explained in her own words, “Don’t click on a link you don’t know, because it can cause a lot of havoc.”
Malicious tagging is like a virus, spreading from one user to another. It involves tagging users in harmful posts, links, or videos that could lead to scams or malware distribution.
The posts the scammers may tag you on may look like legitimate articles, videos, or giveaways. They use social engineering tactics, such as creating a sense of urgency to manipulate you into clicking the link.
It’s easier to pinpoint when a malicious tag comes from a scammer if it was sent from an unknown account, but that’s not always the case. If you receive such a notification from one of your friends, then know your friend’s account has been compromised. This is how the scam spreads––from friend to friend.
The goals behind malicious tagging are varied. It may be to steal personal information, hack into social media accounts, or spread malware that can be used to control devices or steal further information.
This cyber threat is sneakier than many others. It may become a big issue if the scammers get access to your personal information, banking information or passwords. This is why it’s important to be mindful before clicking on a post someone tagged you on without checking if it’s safe and legitimate first.
Though anyone and everyone can be tagged, there are things we can do to avoid the threat.
These steps will keep you and your people safe.
The most important thing to do is to avoid any type of engagement with the tag and post. The scammer needs you to click for the malicious tag to work.
Always exercise caution and think twice before clicking on any link you’re tagged in. By staying alert and knowing how to disengage and report malicious content, you can help protect not only yourself but your network from these cyber threats.
Remember, if something seems off, it’s better to be safe and verify before engaging.
Read also: How to spot fake links or phishing links.