Security software firm Symantec Corp yesterday issued an alert ahead of the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, calling on Internet users to heed the threat of malware scams disguised as free ticket give-aways.
The antivirus vendor said that there has recently been a rise in Internet scams, with many using offers of free World Cup tickets to spread viruses or malware.
The tricks involve e-mails about such popular soccer stars as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to entice people to click on corrupted links, it said.
There are also false “live broadcast” links which carry the threat of phishing.
This kind of Internet scam usually asks the user to download and install a video player or fill out a questionnaire — both of which are designed to deceive soccer fans into sending money to the fraudsters, it added.
Saying that it expected scammers to turn to social networks soon, Symentek reminded Web users to be alert to potential fraud perpetrated in the name of the FIFA World Cup.
Fans wishing to follow the latest news about their favorite soccer players are advised to go to the official Web site of the sports event, it said.
Those who plan to watch the event online should keep away from dubious Web sites and use services provided by trusted sports channels only, it said.
As an added precaution Web users should also update their operating systems and other software to the latest versions, which would ensure that their Web-enabled devices have the best protection against malware, it added.
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