In the light of the Rajab Butt and Haidar Shah video leak row, cybersecurity experts in Bangladesh have reportedly warned netizens against visiting random pages that claim to offer the viral visuals. Many links posted on X and Facebook, claiming to be webpages streaming the said leaked pages, could host malware like Oyster, a stealth loader that bypasses antivirus tools, spies on your activity, and enables long-term data theft.
Malware is short for "malicious software"—a broad term for any software that is created with the intent to damage or gain unauthorised access to a computer, server, or network. Oyster is a type of malware that functions as a backdoor, meaning it gives attackers remote access to a compromised computer or network.
Leaked private videos of Pakistani TikTok and Instagram stars has become a thing on the cyberspace of the subcontinent, as users from across India and Bangladesh also search social media for these clips. They search X and Facebook with keywords like "leaked video" or "viral video" along with the name of the influencer. Having understood this trend, cybercriminals have laid traps for unsuspecting netizens. All they have to do is make a believable thumbnail for the link so that people will be convinced to click on them. Experts warn that visiting such planned links could result in your passwords and financial info getting compromised, getting redirected to gambling websites, or the device getting infected by tracking software, among other risks.
The development comes at a time when Pakistani cyberspace is debating whether Instagram and TikTok influencers are purposefully leaking their private videos online to get attention and more followers. The kind of clips that hit the internet recently have strengthened the argument, Bengali media reports added while warning people about the risks of searching for such content on the internet.
The Tiktoker may have no connection with the cyber fraudsters; they may be leaking their own videos online to get attention. But their actions are giving an opportunity for hackers to trap people, who are "desperate" to track down the leaked clips, Twitter users pointed out. Rajab Butt and Haidar Shah are popular social media personalities in Pakistan. It was Butt's video that reportedly surfaced online first. Days later, Shah also became trending on social media under similar circumstances, reigniting discussions over purposeful leaks.