The Ministry of Digital Affairs’ Administration for Cyber Security has released a list of nine Web sites that maliciously pose as official Line pages, warning of possible hacking and data breaches when visiting and downloading software from the sites.
There were several cases where people downloaded the “Line” app from such sites and had their data stolen, it said.
The administration said the malicious Web sites posing as Line Web sites are: linekr.com, line-china.com, line-tw.com, line-zhcn.com, line-ios.com, linecl.com, linerm.com, lineoe.com, and line- tww.com.
Photo: Screen grab from the Line Web site
The scammers likely selected Line due to its popularity in Taiwan, it said, adding that the cyberattacks using the brand have shown signs of becoming increasingly organized.
Such attacks are not only frequent, but are becoming more refined, the administration said.
In most cases, people were directed to fake Line Web sites when attempting to download the desktop version of the app, it said.
Users were redirected to such malicious sites through paid advertisements and search engine “poisoning,” or when a person’s search engine gets manipulated to prioritize deceptive Web sites, the administration added.
Scammers used the word “Line” in the Web sites’ addresses to make it hard for people to quickly discern that the site is fake, the administration said.
They also used words such as “latest edition” or pretended to offer free stickers to trick people into downloading the malicious software, it added.
Once the fake Line app has been downloaded, the person’s screen could freeze, their camera could be activated remotely or their computer could be controlled by a hacker, the administration said.
Personal information, such as passwords, could also be stolen, the administration added.
To prevent data theft or getting hacked, the public should only download applications from official Web sites or their phone’s official “marketplace,” such as Apple’s App Store, it said.
Legitimate apps would not ask users to access links through e-mails or chat rooms, it said, adding that people could check their Line app for any unusual logins if they are worried they had accessed something suspicious.
It urged the public to report any fake sites to the ministry’s scam-Web sites reporting page or the National Police Agency’s 165 scam hotline.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
ISOLATION: The outposts would serve as support and backup bases, forcing US forces to either face China head-on or reroute, increasing travel time and operational costs China’s outposts in the South China Sea could be used to delay and constrain foreign forces during a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, giving Beijing a critical window to carry out amphibious landing and blockade operations, a report said. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) forward operating bases on islands and reclaimed features in the South China Sea could delay foreign forces long enough for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to secure a key 48-to-72-hour window in the Taiwan Strait, a report commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council found. The report, conducted by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, examined
RSS