I’m sure you can relate. You’re casually scrolling through your Facebook feed, and boom! An ad pops up promising to turbocharge your business with AI-powered software.
It’s tempting, no doubt. Without a second thought, you click to see what it’s all about.
The problem is if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. That is what should tip you off.
Cybercriminals are getting creative. They’re putting up Facebook ads for software products they claim will skyrocket your productivity and revenue to new levels. The latest flood of ads and product pages are for AI-services of popular AI brands; Chat-GPT, Google Bard, Midjourney, and Jasper.
Of course, it’s a lie.
The software they want you to install? It’s actually malware.
Once it’s on your computer, it hands these cybercriminals access to your Facebook data, even your precious ad budget. Sneaky, right?
Does it seem obvious? Maybe out of context and talking about it you would never fall for such a trick. But many of these cyberattacks count on you not paying close attention. They’re geared to get you when you’re tired, or distracted, and juggling a million things in your life. That’s when they look very real, with the promise to help you when you need it. Besides, who would be spending money on ads if it wasn’t a legitimate offer?
So, how do you keep your business safe from malware ads?
First, skepticism is your best friend. As I said, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always do a quick Google search on the advertiser before you click.
A legitimate company would turn up with website results and business information. If it’s one of these big brands you can go to the website directly to confirm the deal instead of clicking through a link. Which is a good reminder to check the link in the ad. Many of the Google Bard impersonations are links to a Google Drive file – that’s sketchy. The Jasper ad links to a “jas-per .life” domain instead of the official jasper.ai domain.
Make sure to not like or comment on ads too, because that just spreads it through your social network worsening the threat.
Above all, set up your Facebook account’s security. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is your shield – it uses a second device to make sure it’s genuinely you logging in. MFA increases the security of any account you use exponentially.
Remember, these cybercriminals might be cunning, but they’re not invincible. In fact, the researchers who uncovered this scheme found a few Vietnamese keywords in their malicious script.
This serves as a stark reminder of the crucial role cybersecurity plays. Yes, running a business is like juggling flaming torches, and adding one more might seem overwhelming.
But here’s the deal: Would you rather spend a little time securing your account now, or a ton of time later cleaning up the mess after a breach?
As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So, stay vigilant, stay safe, and safeguard what you’ve poured your heart and soul into building. And if you need assistance with that, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’ve got your back. 🔒👊