Peeking into porno websites: or how you can get infected

Adult-only websites are a great source of malware and scam pop-ups

Visited porn sites? You are infected! (Top most dangerous sites)

Many people visit sexually oriented websites, many people enjoy them. However, cybercriminals know that many people would do anything it takes to hide such activities from their relatives or co-workers. Besides, frauds also know how popular these sites are, and how easy it is to lure unsuspecting victims to click on another sexually arousing or intriguing ad.

Sadly, inattentive attempts to enjoy adult-only content online can lead to unpleasant consequences. You might even get infected with ransomware or another malicious computer virus. In other words, it is likely that the most of your visited web pages harbour malicious files.

Visited porn sites? You are infected! (Top most dangerous sites)

Cybercriminals know that the majority of curious people wander through such Internet pages using their smartphones, and that is why they create viruses designed for mobile devices only. Nowadays, there are browser-ransomware versions for both iOS and Android users. Such viruses use JavaScript to trigger repetitious pop-ups that display threatening messages.

In the majority of cases, these alerts accuse the victim of watching illegal porn, selling or distributing pictures of children, using cracked software and other activities that the victim wasn't involved in. Such viruses demand paying a ransom for instructions on how to remove the virus from the device.

Surprisingly, despite victim's innocence, such threats do their work. Some part of victimized users decide to pay the ransom because they're afraid to ask for help. In most cases, they think that it is better to pay up than to put themselves in an awkward position.

In most cases, such viruses can be disabled easily. However, we want to share some tips that will help you to avoid malware and other threats waiting for you on these sites. Below, we provide a list of websites that contain or contained dangerous content.

Popular adult websites that might pose a threat to your computer system

PornHub and YouPorn. In case you prefer using this website, be aware of the displayed banners and ads. They hide infected cookiecheck.js code which might download trojans into PCs. This malware is particularly dangerous since it can wreck system registry and ‘invite’ other highly disturbing ‘guests’ – ransomware viruses.

Redtube. This pornographic website failed to escape the attention of hackers as well. Various malicious files, such as keyloggers, so called ‘fileless infections,' trojans, worms were noticed roaming in the web page. The main principle of these threats is that they can collect confidential information, such as passwords, logins, the data of banking account and then disappear. Moreover, the compiled data might be transferred to anonymous third parties.

Hamster. A significant part of the visitors of this web page has encountered ransomware. This virus spreads via Sex Messenger ads. The malware is programmed to enter victim’s computer and scan for the files with the format names, such as .doc, .jpg .m4u .mp3, etc. Therefore, the ransomware encrypts the data using a public key while the private key leading to the decryption process is stored in the servers monitored by cyber criminals. In order to get it, users have to pay a ransom.

Xvideos. If your hobby is watching hanky panky videos, then beware that in exchange for such satisfaction your computer might have received a bonus – ransomware. The website also uses Sex Messenger chat as Hamster website. Moreover, beware of related advertisements labeled as Sex Messenger.

There is also a good news to announce. It has been reported that the major threats and infections have bee removed from these websites, so you are free to use them. However, you should remember that everything has its price.

Tips to enjoy your leisure time and avoid malware

Adult-oriented sites are part of the world wide web, and to be honest, there aren't many exclusive tips to share. Just like on any other Internet website, you simply have to follow common safe browsing rules:

  • Even if you find great pleasure in surfing in those websites, keep in mind that you can never know when they might be attacked by malware again. For that purpose, you need to have a reliable ‘partner’ – anti-spyware or anti-malware program, which can guard your system while you indulge in your preferred activities. Lastly, do not forget to keep it updated so that it could function properly.
  • Avoid clicking on aggressive pop-ups that appear on your screen. If they block the content you're about to watch, click X to close them. Be careful not to click on the ad as this could trigger a redirect to a phishing or malicious domain.
  • Never agree to provide your credit card details unless you are 100% sure that the website is trustworthy. To check if you're not on a phishing site, check website's domain. If it looks shady, close that page immediately.
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Olivia Morelli
Olivia Morelli

Malware analyst...

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