14 DAY TRIAL // A large number of Internet users are anxious to see movies such as Man of Steel, Monsters University, or World War Z. Scammers are counting on this in an effort to lure as many internauts as possible to their scammy websites.
ThreatTrack Security researchers have come across several spam accounts on web-based slide hosting service SlideShare. The accounts are used to promote streaming sites for the aforementioned motion pictures.
According to experts, when users click on the “Watch Man of Steel Online” link, they’re taken to a poorly written review of the movie. Those who don’t settle for the review and click on the “Click Here to Watch” link are taken to what appears to be a streaming site.
Here, they’re presented with a video window. However, in reality, the video window is nothing more than an image. When it’s clicked, a second image appears, leading victims to believe that the movie is about to start.
However, the movie doesn’t actually start and that shouldn’t be surprising considering the Man of Steel is not yet streamed legally.
Instead of the movie, another window pops up, instructing users to create an account for a streaming/downloading service.
“Whatever you end up doing after signing up, it certainly won’t be 143 minutes of wishing you looked like Henry Cavill,” ThreatTrack Security’s Chris Boyd explained in a blog post.
The links that allegedly point to Monsters University and World War Z take users on a similar path.
Experts highlight the fact that the use of SlideShare appears to be pretty effective for the spammers. The account promoting the Man of Steel stream had been visited over 700 times in around 4 hours.
Users who come across such spammy SlideShare accounts are advised to report them.
