This scam basically works on the weaknesses of online shoppers and people who like to look for everything online. In order to cut the cost people try to download/purchase them online.
Over 3,50,000 attacks via this scamming technique have already been registered. Potentially unwanted files are also disguised as ready-made essays and textbooks.
Per sources, over 2000 of these disguised books were of English, around 1200 of them were of Mathematics and more than 850 books were of literature.
The books were a cover up for various threat actors ranging from not-so-serious adware or “unrequested software” to highly severe malware.
Students looking for cheap or even free textbooks for their university or schools create avenues for cybercriminals happen to be their main target.
This is a serious issue because if by any chance this or any other severe threat actor gets administered via these disguised books into a school’s network, a lot of people would get compromised.
The students and the school for that matter should be cyber-aware and make sure they don’t download any unauthenticated file from any illegitimate source just because it’s free.
Download anti-virus software, sit tight on security, steer clear of unknown email IDs and try not to dwell so much on online means.
