It is not unknown that, in the last month, Bluesky has gained many users who, dissatisfied with X (formerly Twitter), have decided to create an account and try this platform. But of course, fraudsters are also taking advantage of this conjuncture. In fact, they are already creating malicious campaigns.
In the last week of November, BlueSky exceeded 20 million users and the number continued to increase. This is what has stimulated hackers to start launching cryptocurrency-related scams. In addition, they know that it is a young audience that comes most to this platform, so they have more opportunities there with attacks related to cryptocurrencies rather than other, more traditional, ways to scam.
It must be taken into account that these types of scams have been very present on platforms such as Facebook or Twitter for years.
Cybercriminals know that they have a greater chance of success there, as they encounter many potential victims. Now it is BlueSky’s turn, as soon as it has started to become popular.
What exactly has been the modus operandi of these attackers? What they have done is something that has become very popular: generate a Deepfaked video through Artificial Intelligence, where Mark Zuckerberg appears promoting certain cryptocurrencies, such as “MetaCoin” and “MetaChain”, alluding to Meta. The MetaChain[.]cash website mentioned in the post also appears to carefully impersonate Meta branding, typeface, and messaging. Basically, they impersonate a well-known brand.
In these publications, messages appear indicating that the victim has won a large amount of money in Bitcoins. As expected, they will ask you to enter a link and download a file or do something. All of this is a scam and that is the strategy to reach the victim.
Another bait is to indicate that they are going to give a certain amount of cryptocurrencies to users and that they do not have to pay anything.
They will request data, download a file, etc, in the same fashion as the old phishing emails. That is what can contain malware or serve to steal personal data and passwords.
BlueSky safety team confirmed that over the last week of November alone the platform: “In the past 24 hours, we have received more than 42,000 reports (an all-time high for one day). We’re receiving about 3,000 reports/hour. To put that into context, in all of 2023, we received 360k reports,”
BlueSky’s moderation architecture is not as straightforward as is the case with centralized platforms like X or Instagram. The greater freedom, content control, and independence offered by BlueSky come with novel challenges that need addressing as the decentralized platform gains momentum.
What can you do to protect yourself if you use BlueSky? In reality, you don’t have to do anything different than what you would do on any other social network. Common sense is going to be essential. Avoid making mistakes, such as clicking on ads of this type where it appears that they are giving you cryptocurrencies. Most likely it will be a scam and will be accompanied by having to download a malicious file or give your data.
It is also key to have everything updated. In many cases, hackers are successful by exploiting security flaws. If you keep your devices protected, as well as the programs you use, you will have a more secure environment. Always check that you have everything up to date and also download the software from legitimate sites.
On the other hand, having a good security program will help you increase protection. Install a good antivirus. It is something that you can also install on your mobile.
In short, be careful with fraudulent advertisements that may sneak through BlueSky, where they relate to cryptocurrencies. Threats such as madware, Trojans or keyloggers are some examples of how they could compromise your security.
The fediverse is a term that refers to a collection of decentralized, interconnected social media platforms that function on different servers but can communicate with each other through standardized protocols, such as ActivityPub. Unlike traditional social networks like Facebook or Twitter, where a single company controls all user data and interactions, the fediverse allows individuals or organizations to host their own instances (servers) that are part of a larger, federated network. This means users on one platform, or instance, can interact with users on other platforms within the fediverse, even though each instance operates independently.
The concept of a decentralized web is not new, but the fediverse has gained traction in recent years as a response to growing concerns about the power and influence of large tech companies over social media. The idea of a decentralized social network first started to take shape in the early 2000s, with initiatives like the GNU Social platform, which laid the groundwork for later federated systems. One of the key breakthroughs came with the development of the ActivityPub protocol in 2018, an open and standardized framework that enables different platforms to communicate and exchange content. Since then, various platforms have adopted the protocol, expanding the fediverse ecosystem.
Some of the most popular social media platforms in the fediverse include Mastodon, a microblogging platform similar to Twitter that operates in a decentralized manner, allowing users to join or create their own instances; PeerTube, a video-sharing platform akin to YouTube but hosted on independent servers, enabling video sharing across the network; Pixelfed, which functions as a federated alternative to Instagram, letting users share photos while maintaining control of their data; Pleroma, another microblogging platform offering a lightweight solution for hosting content; and Friendica, which supports more comprehensive social networking and interaction across multiple protocols, including ActivityPub. Each of these platforms operates independently but remains connected to the larger fediverse, facilitating interaction between users on different instances.
These platforms function independently but are part of the same federated network, enabling interaction across instances regardless of where the user is located.
Several factors drive users to migrate to the fediverse from mainstream social networks. One significant reason is the desire for more data privacy and control, as fediverse users typically retain greater authority over their personal information since there is no centralized management. People also turn to the fediverse to avoid censorship, since users can choose instances with moderation policies that suit their values, offering a sense of freedom compared to the tightly controlled corporate platforms. Decentralization itself is another appealing feature, especially for those who are wary of the concentrated power held by major social media companies. Lastly, the customization options and sense of community within the fediverse attract users looking for niche, interest-based, or values-driven communities, often resulting in a more intimate and personalized experience.
The fediverse offers several benefits for users. Privacy is a significant advantage, as individuals maintain more control over their data, reducing the likelihood of surveillance or data exploitation by large companies. Additionally, the varied moderation policies across instances provide greater freedom of speech, allowing users to select communities that align with their personal values and avoid excessive censorship. The decentralized nature also fosters community-driven interactions and helps create close-knit online environments.
Furthermore, the fediverse is more resilient to outages, as the shutdown of one instance does not affect the others.
However, there are also risks associated with fediverse platforms. One challenge is the inconsistency of moderation, as standards vary between instances, which can lead to toxic behavior in poorly moderated spaces.
The fediverse’s structure can also cause fragmentation, making it harder for new users to navigate or connect with others across different instances without some technical knowledge. The reliability of instances may also be a concern, as smaller, community-run servers can sometimes face issues with stability, security, or data loss if not adequately maintained. Lastly, scalability can be problematic, as some instances might struggle to handle a large influx of users, potentially leading to performance issues or outages.
The fediverse offers a refreshing alternative to the centralized, corporate-controlled social media landscape. By allowing users to join decentralized platforms, the fediverse emphasizes privacy, freedom of speech, and community-driven interactions. However, it also presents unique challenges, such as varied moderation policies and technical fragmentation. As more people seek alternatives to traditional social media, the fediverse may continue to grow, offering a glimpse into what a more decentralized future for online interaction could look like.
