Fake news Turned into a Business Model
WASHINGTON (AFP) – Cyber criminals have
latched onto the notion of “fake news” and turned it into a profitable business
model, with services starting at under $10, security researchers said
yesterday.
The online security firm Digital Shadows released a report
highlighting services aimed at creating bogus media websites, fake reviews and
social media “bots” or automated accounts to promote or denigrate commercial
products and services.
One of the methods used is creating bogus or “spoofed” media
websites designed to look like those of legitimate news organizations. The
researchers uncovered some 2,800 “live spoof” sites.
This can be done by changing a single letter in a web address to
create a fake “clone” of a legitimate news organization site. Some criminals
use the same methods as Russia-based propagandists – modifying legitimate
documents and leaking them as part of disinformation campaigns, the report
said.
“Like any good news story, content will be shared, liked,
reposted and distributed across many different platforms and channels,” the
report said.
“The more widely a piece of disinformation can be spread, the
better the chances of it capturing the public imagination and achieving its
objective – whether that is to discredit an opponent, sow discord or to
generate profit.”
While the use of these tools in political campaigns has become a
growing concern, the same methods can be used for profit, according to the
report.
“The sheer availability of tools means that barriers to entry
are lower than ever,” said Rick Holland, vice president of strategy at Digital
Shadows.
“It
means this now extends beyond geopolitical to financial interests that affect
businesses and consumers.”
Mr Holland said “tool kits” are available on a trial basis for
as little as $7 to controls the activities of social media bots.
Retailers are also a target, with one service offering Amazon
ranking, reviews, votes, listing optimization and selling promotions at prices
from $5 for an unverified review to $500 for a monthly retainer.
Still other services tout the merits of crypto-currencies to
push up the price, similar to stock “pump and dump” scams, the report said.
Many of these services are advertised on the anonymous “dark
web” where users are difficult to trace, according to Mr Holland.But some are
openly advertised as marketing tools as well, he said.
Courtesy: Times of India.