YouTube Videos Teaching Aspiring Hackers Identified

Wlky.com reported on 29th July, 2015 stating that Digital Citizens Alliance, a US nonprofit advocacy group, has discovered thousands of YouTube videos teaching aspiring hackers how to gain access to webcams and computers of users.

For example, the organization discovered an actual video in YouTube which plays some romantic music featuring a female who does not have the slightest idea that hackers are staring into her bedroom. The video had around 37,000 views before being removed from the site.

Adam Benson, a Security Researcher of Digital Citizens Alliance, says that hackers install a malware known as 'Remote Access Trojan' or 'RAT' in the computer of the victim and they can remotely access and gain control of the victim's webcam. Techworm.net published news on 1st August, 2015 according to which, Benson explains that this is surely not a new Trojan; however the online tutorials are innovative concept which is helping hackers to learn how to use this Trojan and making it quite easier for hackers to use this on victims.

Benson says that use of anti-virus and anti-malware software can't crush the RAT completely.

Even Internet users who are aware of the possible harm and also take measures to protect themselves may not be safe.

Benson says: "I don't think that they realize there is a community which is planning all the time about how to bind malicious files to music, movies and videos."

Law enforcement experts mentioned in the report expressing their concern about enthusiasm of authorities to fight the problem and noted many abuses that can be inflicted by hackers.

Usnews.com published news on 29th July, 2015 quoting Scott Aken, a former Cybercrime Agent of FBI, as saying "law enforcement is just not prepared as of now to keep with this stuff as fast as it is changing and people are also not sufficiently trained."

Usnews.com reported on 29th July, 2015 quoting a Spokesperson of YouTube as saying "video-hosting service which sees an approximate 400 hours of video being uploaded every minute, has clear policies outlining the content acceptable to post and we remove videos violating these policies when our users flag these."

» SPAMfighter News - 8/11/2015