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The Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) has warned people looking for pirated software that they could fall victim to cybercriminals using AI-generated YouTube videos to spread malware.
In a statement on Sunday, NCC-CSIRT highlighted the risks to both individuals and organizations, including data theft, financial losses, identity theft, system damage, and harm to reputation.
The commission explained that these AI-generated tutorial videos trick viewers into clicking on links in the video description, which lead to malware that steals data. The number of such videos has increased significantly by 200-300% each month since November 2022.
These videos, often offering tutorials on pirated software like AutoCAD, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Premiere Pro, use AI to create realistic human faces that seem trustworthy. However, the tutorials are fake, and the links in the descriptions lead to malware such as Raccoon, Vidar, and RedLine.
NCC-CSIRT warned that these videos may appear harmless or even entertaining, but they can hide dangerous malware that infects devices when watched. Cybercriminals also use AI-generated videos to create fake software updates or security patches, which can infect viewers’ devices with malware.
Additionally, some videos are part of phishing scams that trick viewers into entering their personal information on fake websites. There are even AI-generated videos that spread ransomware, locking viewers out of their files until a ransom is paid.
To avoid these risks, NCC-CSIRT advised against downloading pirated software and recommended using antivirus software with internet security, keeping it updated, and being cautious about clicking on any links.
