Scam texts from unknown numbers could infect your phone with malware
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- Опубликовано: 21 окт 2024
- Scam text messages from unknown numbers with seemingly innocuous messages could actually infect your phone with malware and steal your information. FULL STORY: bit.ly/3DSPow4
Adrian Ruthnik's move to cleanse the hacker-for-hire industry of scammers is much needed and appreciated. Their efforts to restore integrity to the field are evident in their work.
Their move from the dark web to the clear web was a bold step that reflects their commitment to transparency and integrity. Adrian Ruthnik continues to lead the industry with their ethical practices.
Adrian Ruthnik's transition to the clear web has made their services more accessible without compromising on security. Their commitment to ethical practices sets them apart.
Adrian Ruthnik's transition to the clear web has made their services more accessible and trustworthy. Their commitment to transparency and integrity is evident in their professional approach.
Adrian Ruthnik's dedication to their clients' security needs is evident in their thorough and effective methodologies. Their proactive approach ensures we stay ahead of potential threats.
Dont click links or download anything from people you dont know well, ever.
Also never give them your name. Like what are these people actually thinking???
Do a little bit of research on zero click exploits.
I usually reply with a picture of my middle finger, so far so good.😂
@deemelody2396, I realize your post is 5 months old now, but this year old news story just popped up today on RUclips. I am just wondering if you've noticed a lot of the other comments under this video?
Seems like a lot of the comments are also scams. Why do so many people keep mentioning a particular company? That company was never mentioned in the news story at all. Creepy!
(Sept 2024)
Don't you get bombarded with ads. Don't you consume images from strangers on social networks. If what this guy said its true then ads and images in social networks would be filled with malware. This guy is spreading fear. The real damage from these types of msgs is in destroying trust. Why would Facebook be able to filter malware from images and not on WhatsApp?
executable image attacks has been known for decades. Images are just data. By now there should be good sanitation practices in place to prevent things like that from happening. If they still happen is because they don't really care to fix it.
I block every unknown number. Done deal!
Exactly same here!
Yep. If I don't know the number, it's an auto block. I have 2 people I call, and only 9 people have my actual phone number. Every other number gets blocked, no questions asked.
Same. Anyone falling for any of this shit seriously needs a reality check
I literally received these messages two weeks ago and I just blocked them immediately
Yup. I always warn people who give me their number to text me first because if I don't recognize the number, I will simply decline, then block.
The professionalism and discretion of Adrian Ruthnik's team are commendable. They deliver results without compromising ethics, ensuring our data remains secure.
I received a message asking if I was ok, I knew it was a scammer because no one ever asks me that
😂
Damn😭 are you ok? I ain’t a scammer
I actually texted someone today, on a relative's old number! All I said was Hey. The person didn't respond until this evening and said Who is this and I said, Sorry I had the wrong number.
@@sl4983 Maybe the response was poorly timed and rude so you lost interest. Try sending a voice text instead
We don't care.
Delete those texts don’t even open them
The amount of bravery this took was INSANE. These people all had their lives in danger, but still decided to go through with the recovery for the sake of busting bad scammers. True respect *Strong widget!*
If the FBI was half as dedicated and ingenious (and honest) as you guys are, the USA would be a much safer country.
Amazing work!
Hey ppl, I'm a retired computer/IT person, Yet I still find Meta spy club so informative and straight forward. Thanks for your advise and helping the people...........Great work and love watching.
If I don’t know you, I block you. Simple. 🙏🏼
Sometime i imagine my old mother or father old age use other people phone to call me for help, i cant help but imagine the worst😢
hi how are you
ASL, what are you wearing now?
@@HoangNam-j8jso many of my family use silent mode now - when old folks or emergencies happen- it’s as if we need another way for folks to call each other . I guess silent mode has exceptions -
I don't even answer the phone if I don't know the number lol
I just received a text message that only said “hello“. I automatically click delete and report. But then I turned my TV on, opened RUclips, and this was the first video I saw! Pretty creepy👀😂😂😂
hello
Wake up Neo...
The algorithm has you.
These scam texts are always so polite and unnatural sounding. My friends always text me out of the blue using derogatory and racist names, that's how I know. 😂
@@paranoidhumanoid that’s right !
Metaspyclub gang in the house! Thanks for the analysis!
why are people downloading pictures from strangers? learn how to take a screenshot if you just must have the picture. Don't download stuff!
right? i have enough pics, i don't need any from some stranger/scammer
She hot
Some phones are set up to auto download.
@@imperfectly_megan
Exactly , it’s always these people in the comments blaming the victim of a new issue that popped in the last week rather than the massive tech conglomerates that could easily fix this issue with 1 update. 🙄
Either way, most people who fall for these scams are ages 45+ so they aren’t always tech savvy and ready for the new seasonal scam drop. 😐
men
Who saves a random photo from a random person
Thirsty, desperate men, I'm guessing 😂
@@CooniezYes, so in other words, men 😂
That's what I said! Who even downloads pics from people they DO know?
I think what they are saying is in the messages tab when you click on a photo to enlarge it in full-view, it saves a temp file on your phone that could have malwares written on it.... I could be wrong but sometimes people do click on small image attachments to zoom in
@@jennifercooper3846
And still, most victims of "pig butchering" or scams in general are women. That says a lot about their intelligence.
You are the exemplification of "with great power comes great responsibility." You have this power and unlike these scumbags, you use it for good *STRONGWIDGET*
I just found your page and have been completely enthralled! I love that you're exposing these thieves. I was wondering if these crooks ever go to jail or get fined. Do they? They should!!! Thank you for helping victims of these thieves. Dont stop!!
This was legitimately so wholesome. You can tell at the ending of getting your money back that it wasn't scripted at all when *Strongwidget* proposed.… This warmed my heart today! Congratulations guys! So happy for y'all!
i just block em all and report as spam. i dont open photos either
That’s what I’m doing too plus installing the McAfee software.
Your phone automatically opens photos
@@chiquita683my phone doesnt do that, take that setting off
@@chiquita683not all phones. i have to download the file to open them. so i can block without issue.
@@chiquita683no it doesn’t
Wow this is honestly terrifying
just delete and block them
I never answer any unknown caller’s “NEVER!!”
@yolyprog, That's easy to do when you're not actively looking for employment. I have to answer my phone. It might be a potential employer...
I don't answer any known callers most of the time 😂
They are constantly texting me with "hey(use an unknown name), how are you"? Or its the im sorry im late blah blah . When i tell them they have the wrong number. They go with the "im sorry, i didnt mean to bother you" then they introduce themselves and ask me how I am. I tell them off about their scams then block them
I'm just trying to help 😡😔
But RUclips keeps removing my comments.
Too many victims, like myself. And I want to help people like you from never receiving one of those text messages again. A university must conduct a study on this.
Type exit(-1). Sends their bot into a hissy fit 😂
I’m getting so many of these in July 2024. I “delete and report junk”
Metaspyclub anticipation is building to a fever pitch! 😥
Don't talk to strangers
Not even on RUclips.
@@pcpxbotendorastermace9948 Case in point: "David Greg" trying "to be friends" with hundreds of women in The Dodo channel's comment section on RUclips.
Meanwhile, people you KNOW are the problem.
Deactivate MMS photos auto-download in message settings..
I don’t see the option
@@Letgo_letlive Neither do I.
Nah
Thank you! My phone was set to auto download, and I didn't even know. Just changed it
Just did that, thank you!
Remember: this is Tech and Finance companies being defrauded and passing the responsibility off to you.
As an adult you should be prepared for the worst such as a conglomerate getting compromised
govt asleep at the wheel
@@ianalexander3483they're paid to be asleep by lobbyists.
So, to state it clearly: if you just ignore the message, there's no danger, right? Amazing that in the TV news world there is apparently no compulsion felt to explain things clearly...
If you receive the text of a picture it's already on your phone
2:08 he gives clear advices and better than your advice. Don’t ignore kt. Also maybe watch the video
“Block and report spam” easy as that.
No worries I use a land line.
Good for you! Maybe we should go back to the simpler times.
So? you also probably have no life as well. Here is a cookie.
Wish I still had that option, the system was phased out from the area I live in
Three dimensional chess
There are still scammers on landline too. People using your loved ones voices and saying they're kidnapped or in jail to send ransom money or bail.
I always tell scammers I’m Jake from state farm they never reply back 😂 .
😂
Hey Jake from State Farm. 😂😂😂😂
Well "Jake from State Farm," what are you wearing?
It says in the video not to mess with scammers.Just replying puts you at risk.Delete and block the number.
@barsaf9989 uhh.. khakis?
I look up the phone number on my laptop, check the area code. If neither is attached to anyone I know, blocked and delete.
I got one that just said let's meet at 11. Also those USPS scams are funny when you never even ordered anything. The actual USPS is scammy enough. They don't need scammers pretending to be them.
I've gotten a lot of these
It's sad that there's cases where a victim ends up listening to these text messaging perverts and predators. Millions are targeted I bet but exactly how many people in America? Everyday.
Lol. Malware in photos doesnt work like this. This is a guy who owns a company, pushing a product. Not only does it completely destroy the photo, but there are better ways of placing malware than a broken photo that can store almost zero information.
this isn’t true, malware can absolutely hide in images.
@@moe47988Yes, but it can't be run unless there's an exploit in the phone's operating system.
I was confused when I heard sending a message back or downloading the photo would infect. It seems they couldn't really define the attack vector used whether it was actually the photo or something else. Its more than likely just a scam attempt.
@@moe47988 no
@moe47988 how?
Well, this is one reason why I don’t do banking or shopping with my phone. I just use my phone for internet searches and talk and text.
Just don’t answer them
some people do to be funny and argue but joke’s on them 🤦🏻♀️
God I miss landlines and pay phones.
Pay phones were the best! Until they started charging more than $1 per call at least.
I miss caller id lol
@@ItsJustJaylaevery major mobile carrier has caller ID. You must have a reseller as a carrier.
@@terrapinflyer273Yes because having to find a payphone during an emergency was great back in the day.
It's important to BLOCK and then DELETE. Always block, I know it seems endless but some numbers will go back to scammers. Apple need to do better and build in more options to block entire countries and area codes. Also an option only to receive texts from known contacts, how hard can that be.
Glad the news reporters are looking out for us. Thank you!
The reporter asking “what do you think about that?” WTF do you think I think about that 😑!
Only people who didn't come from RUclips are worthy of liking this *Strong widget* 🏆 what a journey it’s been! this £200,000 recovery has been an inspiration to us all, congrats!!! ❤️
Who on here was one of the unlucky 52 million Americans who was in the AT&T breach.
can you hear me now?
I forgot AT&T still existed until they mentioned the security breach on the news.
Using AT&T is asking for trouble
This report seems to suggest that the malware is only when you choose to save the photo. Someone needs to inform these people, that when a picture is sent via text, and you view it, it’s already downloaded, this is why you can view the photo. No one in their right mind is choosing to save these photos, but they’re already autosaved in your phone.
Google Pixel does a great job at filtering out these scam text and phone calls.
Dang 7 months ago I wish I would of seen this sooner I had no idea.
Anything happened in the meantime? Responded to one 20 mins ago 😅
Same
I literally block every unknown number.
Doesn’t seem to do any good at all:(
Yes, I get these random text messages and I never replied. I ignored them every single time
Yeah thats a phone manufacturing problem, not a hacker problem? Why should I be hacked for saying "who is this?"
wow the world is getting scarier, scammers getting sophisticated, its really dangerous to own internet nowadays...i think we better back to the old days with gsm without internet..
I wonder how opening a picture could install a malware works 🤔 does that mean opening downloaded pics from the internet could do the same thing?
The only way this is possible is with a 0-day exploit. But these are rare and usually the result of state sponsored attacks.
If you want to save the photo, DON'T! Take a SCREENSHOT instead and delete the original.
Any photo you’re viewing in a text message is already downloaded, that’s how you’re seeing it.. to delete it you have to go into storage settings and delete files, and there you’ll find all the images that have been shared in text messages, you can also adjust you text message settings to only save images for a few days.
I block any number I dont know or any text from an unknown number.
Ditto
I get a lot of spam emails 😮
1:11 "...or engage too much..." Yah, that's not how malware or viruses work buddy 😂
I was thinking this same thing 😂. The downloading of the picture may create problems, but the engaging too much? That's a stretch.
Scambaiting is NOT for everyone. It can have real consequences for the ignorant and the foolish.
DO NOT RESPOND!!! BLOCK AND REPORT!!
Great work *Vortextrace* - so glad you are out there fighting these lowlifes. We need to do all we can to spare the elderly and the general public from these despicable scammers! Kudos to YOU!! You deserve the Nobel prize for keeping us safe big up brother!!!
If people are dumb enough to click on links, then they’re dumb enough to have their phone messed up
Thanks tech industry for these portals to crime.
Exactly
Throw away your phone, computer, and all
Smart devices
Problem gone. Stop complaining and do something about it
But you won’t will you?
Thanks hammer industry, for this tool to break into my car
@@michaelrogers9720there are degrees of concessions and technical leeways between having and not having completely.
This is why RUclips promoting "getting back at scammer" videos is so dangerous.
I received two of these messages over the last three weeks, and all I did was block the numbers. I didn’t even respond.
Too many victims, like myself. And I want to help people like you from never receiving one of those text messages again. A university must conduct a study on this.
Someone told me “Hey you what’s going on, I can’t reach you”
I just got a text saying are you up at 4 am.. AND I RESPONDED??! I’m so done
You didn't know that responding was a bad idea until you watched this video. Another Poster also said he responded to a random text message weeks before he saw this video. 💡
lol you’ll be fine . I got one too . Don’t click on any links
I dont even have friends that could have possibly introduced me to someone so i can immediately identify them as scams 😂
I got a phishing text a couple of days ago. I put the URL into a checker and it came up invalid. Blocked and reported it.
Watched a video a few weeks ago of a guy that went around with a crew hacking peoples phones after he took it from them when they were drunk. He said that he could literally lock them out in a few seconds and would return the phone once he was successful in doing his business. I casusally gave a coworker my phone last week to supposedly put in her log in credentials and the next thing I knew nothing but malware notifications were coming through my phone. Everytime I would swipe them away, they came back. I immediately changed my number and learned a grave lesson that day. What's interesting is, she really thinks that I'm clueless and let that slide. I can't stand ignorant ass folk!
Just responding to a text message does not infect your phone, downloading something will
I used to block unknown numbers but they spoof phone numbers so blocking is pointless. Just delete!
Spoof a text ? Or call
The reason why this happens is that the photo causes a glitch in the phone’s memory system that causes it to be able to run its own malicious code.
that's why when I text a friend I met irl for the first time I always include my name so they know it's me
I block any number I don’t recognize and select delete and report option for text messages.
Oh no - don't recommend anti-virus apps, most of those are malware themselves...oy, terrible advice
I know! They're just as bad. Looking at you McAfee and Norton.
Don’t forget Avast.
@@zenmaster9195McAfee okay but do not trust Cloaked . They are malware themselves they sent me a ton of fake links and got ton of weird voicemails in there box for me ..
But yeah you correct tho
Jokes on you. I don't have friends that text me.😂
I don’t answer calls or text messages from people I don’t know or from unknown numbers.
Why....why would you save the photo?
So you don't save hot celebrities' photos to look at sometimes? 😂 good for ya.
@@COMPUTER.SCIENCE.I think you need to wipe your butt better
I would delete them. I’ve received so many of these texts
I got one like this from someone who said they would be hiking in my area. Unknown number. I replied in a week asking them to ident, and the instant reply was that the phone number has been disconnected.
Replying by being a scambaiter isn't really going to do anything. There are so many scambaiters out there that they will now list your number as a scambaiter, not a person they can scam from. Just dont click links or download anything.
I’ve gotten text demanding money as much $10K sending me photos from Facebook 5 years ago
Yup fake . Specially those from “escort pimps”
Been getting those more and more lately, and I've been blocking them left 'n right.
I got dozens of those. But the scammers left cause I'm broke and I got zero credit. Jokes on you.
Sideloading dangerous. Unknown app companies dangerous. No more security updates on you phone? Replace it.
Google phone filters out those messages for you already
Some people you know may do the same thing... be careful with "group texts" especially with a bunch of unfamiliar numbers and pictures...
A minute ago I got a message saying "hello, how are you? " I immediately blocked the number and came to RUclips and saw your video. Pretty Ironic
Same lol
Just like social media, never respond to messages from anyone you dont know. Delete and block them
Never ever pick up or answer a text unless they are in your contacts. Better yet only allow all calls or texts to be put through from your contact list. It works.
I got one of these texts the other day. It said, "Well, well, well, if it isn't the prodigal friend returning. How's it going, my friend?" Well, joke's on them! I don't have any friends, and if they planned to con me out of money, I don't have that either. 🤣 Anyway, I didn't respond and I blocked and reported the number as spam. Nice try, scammers. But getting that message randomly from an unfamiliar number in the middle of the night with no context gave me chills, lol.
Holy shit.... it was really an emotional roller coaster. such a long journey, glad to see the recovery complete and *Grind techiei* even broke down that scammer to the point where he admitted to the scam, got his son involved, and really made him reflect on his actions...just. 👍
I got a "guess who am i" text, literally worded that way, two months ago. Not knowing it was likely a scam, I only typed back "Someone with terrible grammar," then deleted both messages. Haven't gotten a repeat of that one, but did get another one about two weeks later, same ignorant sort of message, and I just blocked and deleted that one. I don't answer any unknown numbers, ever, and I don't ever engage in any conversation with unknown persons.
So how do you find out if you have malware and how do you remove it?
I got a lot. Never answered
By 'download', does it mean a link to download a photo? All photos sent over text are automatically downloaded and seen once a text thread is clicked on/viewed. Is this enough to trigger an attack from an infected image?
I don’t open. Automatic delete.
The very first question I ask is "what is my name? If you don't know who I am then you have the wrong phone number". It works pretty well.
Also you can invent a fictional character, and all the details (such as fake bithday, ssn, etc) and then use that with strangers to feed them bad data. You can spread your own defensive misinformation. It's not just the criminals and media companies that can do that, you can too!
Who saves a photo of someone they don't even know?
These scams are for sugar daddies.
Unknown numbers never get the time of day unless they identify themselves first.
Why would you “save” the photo? It’s in your text message app - WHY WOULD YOU DOWNLOAD IT?