YOUTUBE CREATORS ON HACKERS' HITLIST

Send fake brand collaboration offers with malware

In an alarming trend, cybercriminals are now increasingly targeting popular YouTube creators by exploiting fake brand collaboration offers to distribute malware, a report showed on Monday.

The malware, disguised as legitimate documents like contracts or promotional materials, is often delivered through password-protected files hosted on platforms such as OneDrive to evade detection, claimed CloudSEK, a cybersecurity firm.

"Once downloaded, the malware can steal sensitive information, including login credentials and financial data, while also granting attackers remote access to the victim's systems," said security researcher Mayank Sahariya.