The latest scam to hit the internet targets Pornhub. The porn giant has warned that malicious apps are locking unsuspecting users out of their mobile phones, demanding a payout in exchange for their release.
Cybercriminals disguise ransomware into official Pornhub apps according to security firm ESET. Instead of leading to the site’s vast library of adult content, these programs lock the unsuspecting users out of their cellphones. They then ask a fee of $100 to fix the problem.
Because Pornhub's official app isn't available on Play Store, users often take alternative avenues to download the adult website's videos. Pornhub is a leading source of free online porn.
"Fake copies of legitimate antivirus programs used to be the domain of rogue AVs on Windows," the ESET report reads. "Curiously, the malware, detected by ESET as Android/FakeAV.E also abuses another well-known brand: it spreads by pretending to be a mobile app for the adult video website Pornhub.
"When the app is launched, instead of showing pornographic videos, it shows the user a message that says the device must first be ‘checked for viruses’. After clicking OK, the fake AV, which is made to look like Avast, runs its scam scan."
The firm's report includes a guide for Android users. ESET recommends Android porn lovers to avoid unofficial apps and back up their data on a regular basis.