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3,000+ YouTube videos deliver malware disguised as free software

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3,000+ YouTube videos deliver malware disguised as free software

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YouTube is arguably the most popular and most visited platform for entertainment, education and tutorials. There’s a video for everything on YouTube, whether you want to learn how to cook, ride a bike or need help with work or school. But recent research by Check Point reveals a darker side: a sprawling malware distribution network quietly operating within the platform. Hackers are using compromised accounts, fake engagement and clever social engineering to spread information-stealing malware disguised in more than 3,000 software cracks and game hack videos.

Most victims begin by searching for free or cracked software, cheat tools or game hacks, which is the root of the infection chain. This curiosity for “free” software opens the door to the Ghost Network’s traps.

META ACCOUNT SUSPENSION SCAM HIDES FILEFIX MALWARE

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Cybercriminals are exploiting YouTube’s massive reach by disguising malware inside fake “how-to” and “free software” videos. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

All about YouTube’s ghost network

According to Check Point Research, the YouTube Ghost Network has been active since 2021, with activity surging threefold in 2025. It’s built around a simple but effective formula, which blends social manipulation with technical stealth. The network’s primary targets are people searching for “Game Hacks/Cheats” and “Software Cracks/Piracy.”

Researchers discovered that these videos often feature positive comments, likes and community posts from compromised or fake accounts. This coordinated engagement gives potential victims a false sense of safety.

The fake social proof and fabricated likes, comments and subscriber activity play a key psychological role. They trick viewers into believing the content is legitimate and widely trusted, allowing the operation to persist even when YouTube removes individual videos or channels. The network’s modular structure and constant replacement of banned accounts make takedowns only temporarily effective.

Once a user clicks the provided links, they’re usually taken to file-sharing services or phishing sites hosted on Google Sites, MediaFire, Dropbox or similar platforms. The linked files are often password-protected archives, making them harder for antivirus tools to scan. Victims are then asked to disable Windows Defender before installation, effectively disarming their own protection before running the malware.

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Check Point found that the majority of these attacks deliver information-stealing malware such as Lumma Stealer, Rhadamanthys, StealC and RedLine. These programs harvest passwords, browser data and other sensitive information, sending it back to the attacker’s command and control servers.

What makes the network particularly resilient is its role-based structure. Each compromised YouTube account serves a function; some upload malicious videos, others post download links and a third group boosts credibility by commenting and liking content. When an account gets banned, it’s quickly replaced, allowing the operation to continue largely uninterrupted.

A single click on a malicious link can disable your defenses and install information-stealing malware in seconds. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Inside the malicious campaigns

Two major campaigns stood out in Check Point’s investigation. The first involved the Rhadamanthys infostealer, spread through a compromised YouTube channel named @Sound_Writer, which had nearly 10,000 subscribers.

The attackers uploaded fake cryptocurrency-related videos and used phishing pages on Google Sites to distribute malicious archives. These pages instructed viewers to “turn off Windows Defender temporarily,” assuring them it was a false alert. The archives contained executable files that quietly installed the Rhadamanthys malware, which connected to multiple control servers to exfiltrate stolen data.

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The second campaign, involving HijackLoader and Rhadamanthys, leveraged a much larger channel, @Afonesio1, with around 129,000 subscribers. Here, attackers uploaded videos offering cracked versions of Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and FL Studio.

MICROSOFT SOUNDS ALARM AS HACKERS TURN TEAMS PLATFORM INTO ‘REAL-WORLD DANGERS’ FOR USERS

One of these videos gained over 291,000 views and dozens of glowing comments claiming the software worked perfectly. The malware was hidden inside a password-protected archive linked through a community post. The installer used HijackLoader to drop the Rhadamanthys payload, which then connected to rotating control servers every few days to avoid detection.

Even if you never complete the installation, you can still be at risk. Simply visiting the phishing or file-hosting sites may expose you to malicious scripts or credential theft prompts disguised as “verification” steps. Clicking the wrong link can compromise login data before any software is even installed.

Strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and regular security scans are your best defense against YouTube’s Ghost Network. (Cyberguy.com)

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7 steps you can take to stay safe from YouTube’s ghost network

The Ghost Network succeeds by exploiting curiosity and trust. It disguises malware as “free software” or “game hacks,” relying on users to click before thinking. Protecting yourself means adopting habits that make it harder for attackers to fool you. Here are seven steps to stay safe:

1) Avoid cracked software and cheat downloads

Most infections start with people trying to download pirated or modified programs. These files are often hosted on unregulated file-sharing websites where anyone can upload malicious content. Even if a YouTube video looks polished or filled with positive comments, that doesn’t mean it’s safe. Official software developers and gaming studios never distribute downloads through YouTube links or third-party sites.

Besides being dangerous, downloading cracked software also poses legal risks. Piracy violates copyright law and can lead to serious consequences, while giving cybercriminals a perfect delivery channel for malware.

2) Use a strong antivirus

Make sure you have a trusted antivirus solution installed and always running. Real-time protection can detect suspicious downloads and block harmful files before they do any damage. Schedule regular system scans and keep your antivirus updated so it can recognize the latest threats.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong 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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Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

WHAT REALLY HAPPENS ON THE DARK WEB, AND HOW TO STAY SAFE

3) Never disable your antivirus or Windows Defender

If a tutorial or installer tells you to disable your security software, that’s a red flag. Malware creators use this trick to bypass detection. There’s no legitimate reason to turn off protection, even temporarily. The moment a file asks you to do so, delete it immediately.

4) Be cautious with YouTube links and download sources

Always inspect links before clicking. Hover over them to check the destination and avoid shortened or redirected URLs that hide their true target. Downloads hosted on unfamiliar domains or file-sharing sites should be treated as unsafe. If you need software, get it directly from the official website or trusted open-source communities.

5) Use a password manager and enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

Turning on 2FA for important accounts adds another layer of protection, ensuring that even if someone gets your password, they can’t access your account. Malware often aims to steal saved passwords and browser data. Storing credentials in a password manager keeps them encrypted and separate from your browser, making them harder to steal. Consider using a password manager, which securely stores and generates complex passwords, reducing the risk of password reuse. 

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Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our #1 password manager (see CyberGuy.com) pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials. 

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at CyberGuy.com

6) Keep your operating system and apps updated

Software updates don’t just bring new features, but they also fix security flaws that malware can exploit. Enable automatic updates for your system, browser, and commonly used applications. Staying up to date is one of the simplest ways to prevent infections.

7) Use a trusted data removal service

Even after securing your system, your personal information might already be circulating online from past breaches. A reliable data removal service can continuously scan and request deletion of your data from people-search and broker sites, making it harder for cybercriminals to exploit your exposed information.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice.  They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy.  These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites.  It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet.  By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

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Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: CyberGuy.com

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Kurt’s key takeaway

Cybercriminals have evolved beyond traditional phishing and email scams. By exploiting a platform built on trust and engagement, they have created a scalable, self-sustaining system for malware distribution. Frequent file updates, password-protected payloads, and shifting control servers make these campaigns difficult for both YouTube and security vendors to detect and shut down.

Do you think YouTube is doing enough to stop malware distribution on its platform? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com

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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.  

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Technology

Here’s your first look at Kratos in Amazon’s God of War show

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Here’s your first look at Kratos in Amazon’s God of War show

Amazon has slowly been teasing out casting details for its live-action adaptation of God of War, and now we have our first look at the show. It’s a single image but a notable one showing protagonist Kratos and his son Atreus. The characters are played by Ryan Hurst and Callum Vinson, respectively, and they look relatively close to their video game counterparts.

There aren’t a lot of other details about the show just yet, but this is Amazon’s official description:

The God of War series storyline follows father and son Kratos and Atreus as they embark on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye. Through their adventures, Kratos tries to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human.

That sounds a lot like the recent soft reboot of the franchise, which started with 2018’s God of War and continued through Ragnarök in 2022. For the Amazon series, Ronald D. Moore, best-known for his work on For All Mankind and Battlestar Galactica, will serve as showrunner. The rest of the cast includes: Mandy Patinkin (Odin), Ed Skrein (Baldur), Max Parker (Heimdall), Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (Thor), Teresa Palmer (Sif), Alastair Duncan (Mimir), Jeff Gulka (Sindri), and Danny Woodburn (Brok).

While production is underway on the God of War series, there’s no word on when it might start streaming.

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300,000 Chrome users hit by fake AI extensions

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300,000 Chrome users hit by fake AI extensions

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Your web browser may feel like a safe place, especially when you install helpful tools that promise to make your life easier. But security researchers have uncovered a dangerous campaign in which more than 300,000 people installed Chrome extensions pretending to be artificial intelligence (AI) assistants. Instead of helping, these fake tools secretly collect sensitive information like your emails, passwords and browsing activity.

They used familiar names like ChatGPT, Gemini and AI Assistant. If you use Chrome and have installed any AI-related extension, your personal information may already be exposed. Even worse, some of these malicious extensions are still available today, putting more people at risk without their knowing.

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More than 300,000 Chrome users installed fake AI extensions that secretly harvested sensitive data. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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What you need to know about fake AI extensions

Security researchers at browser security company LayerX discovered a large campaign involving 30 malicious Chrome extensions disguised as AI-powered assistants (via BleepingComputer). Together, these extensions were installed more than 300,000 times by unsuspecting users.

Some of the most popular extensions included names like AI Sidebar with 70,000 users, AI Assistant with 60,000 users, ChatGPT Translate with 30,000 users, and Google Gemini with 10,000 users. Another extension called Gemini AI Sidebar had 80,000 users before it was removed.

These extensions were distributed through the official Chrome Web Store, which made them appear legitimate and trustworthy. Even more concerning, researchers found that many of these extensions were connected to the same malicious server, showing they were part of a coordinated effort.

While some extensions have since been removed, others remain available. This means new users could still unknowingly install them and expose their personal data. Here’s the list of the affected extensions:

  • AI Assistant
  • Llama
  • Gemini AI Sidebar
  • AI Sidebar
  • ChatGPT Sidebar
  • Grok
  • Asking ChatGPT
  • ChatGBT
  • Chat Bot GPT
  • Grok Chatbot
  • Chat With Gemini
  • XAI
  • Google Gemini
  • Ask Gemini
  • AI Letter Generator
  • AI Message Generator
  • AI Translator
  • AI For Translation
  • AI Cover Letter Generator
  • AI Image Generator ChatGPT
  • Ai Wallpaper Generator
  • Ai Picture Generator
  • DeepSeek Download
  • AI Email Writer
  • Email Generator AI
  • DeepSeek Chat
  • ChatGPT Picture Generator
  • ChatGPT Translate
  • AI GPT
  • ChatGPT Translation
  • ChatGPT for Gmail

FAKE AI CHAT RESULTS ARE SPREADING DANGEROUS MAC MALWARE

These malicious tools were listed in the official Chrome Web Store, making them appear legitimate and trustworthy. (LayerX)

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How the fake AI Chrome extension attack works

These fake extensions pretend to offer helpful AI features, such as translating text, summarizing emails, or acting as an AI assistant. But behind the scenes, they quietly monitor what you are doing online.

Once installed, the extension gains permission to view and interact with the websites you visit. This allows it to read the contents of web pages, including login screens where you enter your username and password.

In some cases, the extensions specifically targeted Gmail. They could read your email messages directly from your browser, including emails you received and even drafts you were still writing. This means attackers could access private conversations, financial information and sensitive personal details.

The extensions then sent this information to servers controlled by the attackers. Because they loaded content remotely, the attackers could change their behavior at any time without needing to update the extension.

Some versions could also activate voice features through your browser. This could potentially capture spoken conversations near your device and send transcripts back to the attackers.

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If you installed one of these extensions, attackers may already have access to extremely sensitive information. This includes your email content, login credentials, browsing habits and possibly even voice recordings.

We reached out to Google for comment, and a spokesperson told CyberGuy that the company “can confirm that the extensions from this report have all been removed from the Google Web Store.”

BROWSER EXTENSION MALWARE INFECTED 8.8M USERS IN DARKSPECTRE ATTACK

Once installed, the extensions could read emails, capture passwords, monitor browsing activity and send the data to attacker-controlled servers. (Bildquelle/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

7 ways you can protect yourself from malicious Chrome extensions

If you have ever installed an AI-related Chrome extension, taking a few simple precautions now can help protect your accounts and prevent further damage.

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1) Remove any suspicious or unused browser extensions

On a Windows PC or Mac, open Chrome and type chrome://extensions into the address bar. Review every extension listed. If you see anything unfamiliar, especially AI assistants you don’t remember installing, click “Remove” immediately. Malicious extensions depend on going unnoticed. Removing them stops further data collection and cuts off the attacker’s access to your information.

2) Change your passwords

If you installed any suspicious extension, assume your passwords may be compromised. Start by changing your email password first, since email controls access to most other accounts. Then update passwords for banking, shopping and social media accounts. This prevents attackers from using stolen credentials to break into your accounts.

3) Use a password manager to create and protect strong passwords

A password manager generates unique, complex passwords for each account and stores them securely. This prevents attackers from accessing multiple accounts if one password is stolen. Password managers also alert you if your login credentials appear in known data breaches, helping you respond quickly and protect your identity. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.

4) Install strong antivirus software and keep it active

Good antivirus software can detect malicious browser extensions, spyware, and other hidden threats. It scans your system for suspicious activity and blocks harmful programs before they can steal your information. This adds an important layer of protection that works continuously in the background to keep your device safe. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

5) Use an identity theft protection service

Identity theft protection services monitor your personal data, including email addresses, financial accounts, and Social Security numbers, for signs of misuse. If criminals try to open accounts or commit fraud using your information, you receive alerts quickly. Early detection allows you to act fast and limit financial and personal damage. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com.

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6) Keep your browser and computer fully updated

Software updates fix security vulnerabilities that attackers exploit. Enable automatic updates for Chrome and your operating system so you always have the latest protections. These updates strengthen your defenses against malicious extensions and prevent attackers from taking advantage of known weaknesses.

7) Use a personal data removal service

Personal data removal services scan data broker websites that collect and sell your personal information. They help remove your data from these sites, reducing what attackers can find and use against you. Less exposed information means fewer opportunities for criminals to target you with scams, identity theft or phishing attacks.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.

Kurt’s key takeaway

Even tools designed to make your life easier can become tools for cybercriminals. Malicious extensions often hide behind trusted names and convincing features, making them difficult to spot. You can significantly reduce your risk by reviewing your browser extensions regularly, removing anything suspicious and using protective tools like password managers and strong antivirus software.

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Have you checked your browser extensions recently? Let us know your thoughts by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

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Anthropic refuses Pentagon’s new terms, standing firm on lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillance

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Anthropic refuses Pentagon’s new terms, standing firm on lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillance

Less than 24 hours before the deadline in an ultimatum issued by the Pentagon, Anthropic has refused the Department of Defense’s demands for unrestricted access to its AI.

It’s the culmination of a dramatic exchange of public statements, social media posts, and behind-the-scenes negotiations, coming down to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s desire to renegotiate all AI labs’ current contracts with the military. But Anthropic, so far, has refused to back down from its two current red lines: no mass surveillance of Americans, and no lethal autonomous weapons (or weapons with license to kill targets with no human oversight whatsoever). OpenAI and xAI had reportedly already agreed to the new terms, while Anthropic’s refusal had led to CEO Dario Amodei being summoned to the White House this week for a meeting with Hegseth himself, in which the Secretary reportedly issued an ultimatum to the CEO to back down by the end of business day on Friday or else.

In a statement late Thursday, Amodei wrote, “I believe deeply in the existential importance of using AI to defend the United States and other democracies, and to defeat our autocratic adversaries. Anthropic has therefore worked proactively to deploy our models to the Department of War and the intelligence community.”

He added that the company has “never raised objections to particular military operations nor attempted to limit use of our technology in an ad hoc manner” but that in a “narrow set of cases, we believe AI can undermine, rather than defend, democratic values” — going on to specifically mention mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. (Amodei mentioned that “partial autonomous weapons … are vital to the defense of democracy” and that fully autonomous weapons may eventually “prove critical for our national defense,” but that “today, frontier AI systems are simply not reliable enough to power fully autonomous weapons.” He did not rule out Anthropic acquiescing to the military’s use of fully autonomous weapons in the future but mentioned that they were not ready now.)

The Pentagon had already reportedly asked major defense contractors to assess their dependence on Anthropic’s Claude, which could be seen as the first step to designating the company a “supply chain risk” – a public threat that the Pentagon had made recently (and a classification usually reserved for threats to national security). The Pentagon was also reportedly considering invoking the Defense Production Act to make Anthropic comply.

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Amodei wrote in his statement that the Pentagon’s “threats do not change our position: we cannot in good conscience accede to their request.” He also wrote that “should the Department choose to offboard Anthropic, we will work to enable a smooth transition to another provider, avoiding any disruption to ongoing military planning, operations, or other critical missions. Our models will be available on the expansive terms we have proposed for as long as required.”

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