Many of us use Spotify every day, whether to listen to songs, podcasts, or audiobooks. Some of us create playlists of our favorite songs, while others save playlists made by others. In case you didn’t know, Spotify allows you to create public playlists that anyone can save and listen to. You’d think this is a harmless feature, but spammers have found a way to misuse it. They’re using Spotify playlists and podcasts to push pirated software, game cheat codes, spam links, and malware sites. I’ll discuss the details of this emerging online scam and share tips on how to stay safe.
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How the Spotify scam works
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The end goal
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7 ways to stay safe from Spotify scams
1) Avoid clicking on suspicious links,
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
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2) Stick to official sources:
3) Use strong, unique passwords: Create complex and unique passwords for your Spotify account and avoid using personal information like birthdays or pet names.
4) Be skeptical of synthesized speech and short episodes:
5) Verify curator credentials: Check the credentials of playlist curators. Legitimate curators usually have a verifiable online presence. If you can’t find any information about them, it’s best to avoid engaging with them.
6) Recognize phishing attempts: Be cautious of emails claiming to be from Spotify that ask you to confirm account details or click on suspicious links. These are often phishing attempts designed to steal your credentials.
7) Report and block suspicious content:
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Kurt’s key takeaway
Do you think platforms like Spotify and Google are doing enough to prevent scams, or could they improve? Let us know in the comments below.
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