Scammers Target The Odyssey Release With 2 Malware Tactics Within Hours
Updated
Updated · Malwarebytes Labs · Jul 20
Scammers Target The Odyssey Release With 2 Malware Tactics Within Hours
2 articles · Updated · Malwarebytes Labs · Jul 20
Summary
Within hours of The Odyssey’s release, researchers found two scam patterns on piracy searches: fake browser warnings that trigger ad redirects and a supposed 1080p WEBRip that was actually a Windows .exe.
The fake “Browser Issue Detected” pop-ups appeared across multiple cloned torrent sites with near-identical wording and layout, suggesting a coordinated campaign built to capture traffic for the new film.
Clicking “Fix It Now” can route users into malvertising chains that lead to fake extensions, scareware or malware, while running the disguised download could install a Trojan, infostealer, loader or even ransomware.
The scams rely on social engineering rather than software flaws, using spoofed VLC icons, misleading metadata and webpage overlays that can be hard for browsers or antivirus tools to distinguish automatically.
Users who clicked or ran the files are advised to scan the device, disconnect it from the network if an .exe was executed, remove unfamiliar browser extensions and change important passwords from a trusted device.