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Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Over 250 dodgy apps uncovered that steal private photos and threaten to leak them to family unless victims pay up
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RESEARCHERS have uncovered an 'emotionally manipulative' extortion campaign putting users at risk. Over 250 dodgy apps have been uncovered, which are forcing victims of the scam to pay up. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 More than 250 dodgy apps have been uncovered, making people pay scammers Credit: Alamy Dodgy apps uncovered Security researchers Zimperium zLabs claimed to have found more than 250 Android apps, all pretending to be dating and romance apps. Zimperium calls the campaign SarangTrap, as it has mostly targeted people living in South Korea. On the surface, the apps look slick and well-designed, hiding the usual telltale signs of scam pages. 4 There are simple ways to protect yourself from scams Credit: Alamy However, behind the scenes, the apps work as info-stealers, taking user contact information, photos and data from their devices. READ MORE TECH SCAM FEARS Brits face losing £100m in ticket scams this summer, experts warn Due to the nature of the apps, the victims were lured in with 'emotionally charged interactions'. If the threat actors find any incriminating information on the compromised devices, they reach out to the victim and threaten to share it with their family, friends, and partners, unless a payment is made. Ways to stay safe Out of the 80 domains used in this campaign, many were allegedly indexed by popular search engines. This means that for victims who tend to be scam-savvy, they appear legitimate. The zLabs research team said: 'This is more than just a malware outbreak; it's a digital weaponisation of trust and emotion. 'Users seeking connection are being manipulated into granting access to some of their most personal data.' 4 Threat actors find any incriminating information on the compromised devices. Credit: Alamy The zLabs team have provided advice on how to avoid falling victim to the scam. Users should avoid downloading apps from unfamiliar links or unofficial app stores. This is because the more than 250 apps, a part of SarangTrap could not be found on Playstore or App Store. Malware can sometimes find its way onto these well now app stores, but Google and Apple are diligent with protecting their users. As a result, it is a lot harder to pick up malware on the official store rather than a third-party system. The zLabs researchers also recommended that users should be careful of apps requiring unusual permissions or an invitation code. Other advice to users includes regularly reviewing the permissions they granted and installed profiles they operate, and they should install on-device mobile security solutions that can help detect and block malware. Advice for dating app users While this particular scam came from users downloading malware from third-party app stores, there are always ways for users to protect themselves on dating apps. Advice service Brook tell users to always check the person you are speaking to is who they say they are. 4 Users need to be careful not to fall victims to scams on dating apps Credit: AFP This may involve taking time with a person, and don't feel pressured to do anything before the user feels ready. For more common apps which are trusted, ensure to stay in the app rather than giving the person the user's number. They also recommend not sharing any private information or imagery.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Over 250 dodgy apps uncovered that steal private photos and threaten to leak them to family unless victims pay up
RESEARCHERS have uncovered an 'emotionally manipulative' extortion campaign putting users at risk. Over 250 dodgy apps have been uncovered, which are forcing victims of the scam to pay up. Advertisement 4 More than 250 dodgy apps have been uncovered, making people pay scammers Credit: Alamy Dodgy apps uncovered Security researchers Zimperium zLabs claimed to have found more than 250 Android apps, all pretending to be dating and romance apps. Zimperium calls the campaign SarangTrap, as it has mostly targeted people living in South Korea. On the surface, the apps look slick and well-designed, hiding the usual telltale signs of scam pages. 4 There are simple ways to protect yourself from scams Credit: Alamy However, behind the scenes, the apps work as info-stealers, taking user contact information, photos and data from their devices. Advertisement READ MORE TECH Due to the nature of the apps, the victims were lured in with 'emotionally charged interactions'. If the threat actors find any incriminating information on the Ways to stay safe Out of the 80 domains used in this campaign, many were allegedly indexed by popular search engines. This means that for victims who tend to be scam-savvy, they appear legitimate. Advertisement Most read in Tech The zLabs research team said: 'This is more than just a malware outbreak; it's a digital weaponisation of trust and emotion. 'Users seeking connection are being manipulated into granting access to some of their most personal data.' 4 Threat actors find any incriminating information on the compromised devices. Credit: Alamy The zLabs team have provided advice on how to avoid falling victim to the scam. Advertisement Users should avoid downloading apps from unfamiliar links or unofficial app stores. This is because the more than 250 apps, a part of SarangTrap could not be found on Playstore or App Store. Malware can sometimes find its way onto these well now app stores, but Google and Apple are diligent with protecting their users. As a result, it is a lot harder to pick up malware on the official store rather than a third-party system. Advertisement The zLabs researchers also recommended that users should be careful of apps requiring unusual permissions or an invitation code. Other advice to users includes regularly reviewing the permissions they granted and installed profiles they operate, and they should install on-device mobile security solutions that can help detect and block malware. Advice for dating app users While this particular scam came from users downloading malware from third-party app stores, there are always ways for users to protect themselves on Advice service Advertisement 4 Users need to be careful not to fall victims to scams on dating apps Credit: AFP This may involve taking time with a person, and don't feel pressured to do anything before the user feels ready. For more common apps which are trusted, ensure to stay in the app rather than giving the person the user's number. They also recommend not sharing any private information or imagery. Advertisement
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Over 250 dodgy apps uncovered that steal private photos and threaten to leak them to family unless victims pay up
RESEARCHERS have uncovered an 'emotionally manipulative' extortion campaign putting users at risk. Over 250 dodgy apps have been uncovered, which are forcing victims of the scam to pay up. 4 Dodgy apps uncovered Security researchers Zimperium zLabs claimed to have found more than 250 Android apps, all pretending to be dating and romance apps. Zimperium calls the campaign SarangTrap, as it has mostly targeted people living in South Korea. On the surface, the apps look slick and well-designed, hiding the usual telltale signs of scam pages. 4 However, behind the scenes, the apps work as info-stealers, taking user contact information, photos and data from their devices. Due to the nature of the apps, the victims were lured in with 'emotionally charged interactions'. If the threat actors find any incriminating information on the compromised devices, they reach out to the victim and threaten to share it with their family, friends, and partners, unless a payment is made. Ways to stay safe Out of the 80 domains used in this campaign, many were allegedly indexed by popular search engines. This means that for victims who tend to be scam-savvy, they appear legitimate. The zLabs research team said: 'This is more than just a malware outbreak; it's a digital weaponisation of trust and emotion. 'Users seeking connection are being manipulated into granting access to some of their most personal data.' 4 The zLabs team have provided advice on how to avoid falling victim to the scam. Users should avoid downloading apps from unfamiliar links or unofficial app stores. This is because the more than 250 apps, a part of SarangTrap could not be found on Playstore or App Store. Malware can sometimes find its way onto these well now app stores, but Google and Apple are diligent with protecting their users. As a result, it is a lot harder to pick up malware on the official store rather than a third-party system. The zLabs researchers also recommended that users should be careful of apps requiring unusual permissions or an invitation code. Other advice to users includes regularly reviewing the permissions they granted and installed profiles they operate, and they should install on-device mobile security solutions that can help detect and block malware. Advice for dating app users While this particular scam came from users downloading malware from third-party app stores, there are always ways for users to protect themselves on dating apps. Advice service Brook tell users to always check the person you are speaking to is who they say they are. 4 This may involve taking time with a person, and don't feel pressured to do anything before the user feels ready. For more common apps which are trusted, ensure to stay in the app rather than giving the person the user's number. They also recommend not sharing any private information or imagery.
The Wire
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Wire
Swipe, Watch, Feel: Rigi Launches Viralo, India's First Hindi Micro Drama Streaming Platform
Rigi, a leading force in India's creator economy, proudly unveils Viralo, a revolutionary mobile-first video streaming platform designed to captivate India's mobile-native audience. With bite-sized, high-impact Hindi micro dramas crafted for vertical viewing, Viralo delivers maximum emotion in minimal time, perfectly suited for the fast-paced digital lifestyle of Bharat. Viralo presents a bold new vision for storytelling — immersive, high-intensity content spanning thriller, revenge, suspense, romance, and comedy, all deeply rooted in Indian culture and everyday life. This uniquely relatable content ecosystem is created for India's reel generation, ensuring a seamless connection with audiences from metro cities to tier-2 towns. 'With Viralo, we are reimagining storytelling for India's mobile-first audiences,' said Ananya Singhal, Co-founder of Rigi. 'Today's users crave entertainment that is quick, intense, and emotionally relatable — and that's exactly what Viralo delivers.' Swapnil Saurav, Co-founder and CEO of Rigi, added, 'Our mission is simple: to bring premium, relatable drama to every Indian's fingertips. We're combining data-driven insights, a creator-first approach, and scalable storytelling to create the future of mobile entertainment.' Breaking Records from Day One: Viralo has made a thunderous debut, clocking over 5 lakh downloads in just two weeks and quickly rising as one of India's most trending entertainment apps on the Playstore. Its vertical, reel-style format and culturally resonant narratives are striking a powerful chord with India's digital-first viewers. Power-Packed Backing: Built on a strong foundation of product innovation, content excellence, and capital support, Viralo is backed by an illustrious lineup of investors including Ramakant Sharma (Livspace), Tanmay Bhat, Shubh Malhotra (MPL), Kunal Shah (CRED), and Amit Agarwal (NoBroker). The platform also enjoys the trust of top-tier VCs like Stellaris Venture Partners, Peak XV Partners, Elevation Capital, and Accel India, along with the endorsement of Sharks Anupam Mittal and Kunal Bahl. What's Next for Viralo: Viralo is set to launch 100 new micro-drama series over the coming months, further enriching its content library. Leveraging AI-powered recommendations and storytelling tools, the platform aims to personalize user experience and scale storytelling like never before. Whether it's a young adult scrolling during a chai break or a busy professional catching a quick episode between meetings, Viralo promises premium storytelling — anytime, anywhere. Viralo is now available on both Android and iOS. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with NRDPL and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.).
Business Standard
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Introducing Viralo: Rigi's Power-Packed Platform for Hindi Micro Dramas That Click with Bharat
VMPL New Delhi [India], July 17: Rigi, a leading force in India's creator economy, proudly unveils Viralo, a revolutionary mobile-first video streaming platform designed to captivate India's mobile-native audience. With bite-sized, high-impact Hindi micro dramas crafted for vertical viewing, Viralo delivers maximum emotion in minimal time, perfectly suited for the fast-paced digital lifestyle of Bharat. Viralo presents a bold new vision for storytelling -- immersive, high-intensity content spanning thriller, revenge, suspense, romance, and comedy, all deeply rooted in Indian culture and everyday life. This uniquely relatable content ecosystem is created for India's reel generation, ensuring a seamless connection with audiences from metro cities to tier-2 towns. "With Viralo, we are reimagining storytelling for India's mobile-first audiences," said Ananya Singhal, Co-founder of Rigi. "Today's users crave entertainment that is quick, intense, and emotionally relatable -- and that's exactly what Viralo delivers." Swapnil Saurav, Co-founder and CEO of Rigi, added, "Our mission is simple: to bring premium, relatable drama to every Indian's fingertips. We're combining data-driven insights, a creator-first approach, and scalable storytelling to create the future of mobile entertainment." Breaking Records from Day One: Viralo has made a thunderous debut, clocking over 5 lakh downloads in just two weeks and quickly rising as one of India's most trending entertainment apps on the Playstore. Its vertical, reel-style format and culturally resonant narratives are striking a powerful chord with India's digital-first viewers. Power-Packed Backing: Built on a strong foundation of product innovation, content excellence, and capital support, Viralo is backed by an illustrious lineup of investors including Ramakant Sharma (Livspace), Tanmay Bhat, Shubh Malhotra (MPL), Kunal Shah (CRED), and Amit Agarwal (NoBroker). The platform also enjoys the trust of top-tier VCs like Stellaris Venture Partners, Peak XV Partners, Elevation Capital, and Accel India, along with the endorsement of Sharks Anupam Mittal and Kunal Bahl. What's Next for Viralo: Viralo is set to launch 100+ new micro-drama series over the coming months, further enriching its content library. Leveraging AI-powered recommendations and storytelling tools, the platform aims to personalize user experience and scale storytelling like never before.
