November 14, 2023 at 11:33PM
Malwarebytes has released new threat research showing an increase in credit card skimming for the holiday shopping season. The report highlights the Kritec campaign, which has compromised hundreds of websites with realistic payment templates. Malvertising is also on the rise, with a 42% increase in incidents in the US. Malwarebytes provides online shopping tips, such as avoiding clicking on sponsored ads and using password managers. They also offer the free Malwarebytes Browser Guard extension for safer browsing. The Browser Guard plug-in has been enhanced with improved protection and new features for Malwarebytes Premium users.
Malwarebytes, a global leader in real-time cyber protection, has released new threat research indicating an increase in credit card skimming for the holiday shopping season. The report highlights the Kritec campaign, which has compromised hundreds of websites with realistic payment templates and convincing language localization. Malwarebytes tracked a 50% increase in newly registered domains attributed to Kritec in the US since September, highlighting the growing threat to innocent shoppers. In addition to credit card skimming, malvertising (online ads that deliver scams or install malware) is also on the rise. Malwarebytes observed a 42% increase in malvertising incidents in the US over the past two months.
To protect yourself while shopping online, here are some tips:
1. Avoid clicking on sponsored ads: Instead, conduct a direct search for your desired retailer to avoid falling victim to malvertising tactics that can even spoof reputable brands like Amazon.
2. Check copyright information: Be cautious of websites that appear outdated or poorly maintained. Avoid entering payment information on such websites.
3. Consider using a Password Manager and enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Utilize a password manager to protect your payment information and enable MFA whenever possible.
4. Keep an eye on your financial statements: With increased online shopping, be vigilant about regularly checking your online bank and credit card statements for any suspicious activity.
5. Run an antivirus solution: Most antivirus products offer web protection that detects malicious domains and IP addresses. Consider using Malwarebytes Premium, which provides advanced web protection and is complemented by the Malwarebytes Browser Guard extension.
6. Use Malwarebytes Browser Guard: This free browser extension (available for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari) blocks unwanted and unsafe content, preventing users from accessing phishing sites, entering information into unsafe domains, and downloading malware. It also blocks web trojans.
Malwarebytes has also made enhancements to its Browser Guard plug-in, including improved protection, new scanning blocks to prevent website scans for vulnerable network ports, Facebook support to block ads and sponsored content, and a monthly overview of blocked threats. Malwarebytes Premium users on Windows can access additional functionalities in Browser Guard, such as content control, import/export of settings across browsers and devices, and historical detection statistics.
For more information on the latest threats and cyber protection strategies, you can visit Malwarebytes’ blog or follow them on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitter.