Lousy scam by cyber scoundrels
Don’t plug it in: Vibrator turns out to be a virus thrower – for your computer
Modern vibrators can do more than older sex toys – but they are also more dangerous
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Modern vibrators and other sex toys have long been able to be customized to suit your own needs using an app or computer. But some should be kept away from the computer – or use a USB condom.
The revolution of smart devices does not stop at the bedroom: more and more manufacturers of sex toys allow you to control the little joy-bringers via your smartphone or to adjust the vibration patterns. But the same applies to sex technology: Safety first. Otherwise you’ll catch something nasty.
Malwarebytes is currently reporting the most recent example in a blog post. The antivirus experts were informed by a user that a Vibrator wanted to secretly install a program on her Windows computer. A closer examination revealed that it was a pretty nasty Trojan.
Vibrator with a disgusting extra
Specifically, it’s about the Sexology Pussy Power 8-Function Rechargeable Bullet Vibrator, which is sold exclusively by US retailer Spencer’s. The pink mini vibrator isn’t actually smart at all, but it still comes with a USB plug: The plug, hidden under a stylized cat’s head, is actually used to charge the battery using a power supply. However, if you plug it into the USB port of a PC, malicious processes are suddenly started quite unexpectedly.
The script that is started when plugged in initially causes the web browser to crash, “to distract” as the experts suspect. Then the so-called Lumma Stealer, a common Trojan that cyber scoundrels can rent from its developers as a kind of service, is installed in the background. The program not only steals credentials and snoops on existing crypto wallets, but also automatically intercepts incoming confirmations for two-factor authentication. With bad luck, even secured accounts such as the email account or online banking can be taken over.
How exactly the Trojan got onto the vibrator is still unclear. When confronted with the discovery, the manufacturer confirmed that it was aware of the problem and was investigating it. However, there does not seem to be any further knowledge of the exact origin or even attempts at a solution so far. It is conceivable that the USB plug was already contaminated when the parts were purchased. So. However, the question arises as to whether this is an isolated case or a completely contaminated product series – and whether other toys in the chain could also be contaminated.
Safety comes first – even with sex toys
In general, the virus experts at Malewarebytes recommend that you avoid connecting your sex toys – or other technology that doesn’t require it – directly to your computer. And the toy can be charged using a classic power adapter. If you don’t have one at hand, we recommend a USB condom. What it is and what else you can use it for find out in this article.
In fact, this isn’t the first time sex toys have proven to be a safety hazard. In the past, vibrators and other toys have repeatedly been discovered that were contaminated with pests or whose apps actively collected users’ data. Cheaper models in particular seem to be affected. A group of well-meaning hackers has therefore made it their mission to check various sex toys for their (computer) security and to record their findings your own website to document. Unfortunately, this is of little help to average users: the analysis is rather technical. There is currently no easy-to-use database with models rated as safe or particularly unsafe.
Source:Malwarebytes, Vibrator database