Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) AAPL -1.65% was busy launching its two new iPhones in the middle of this week. Just when people thought everyone’s focus was on the new devices, a group of online scammers took it as an opportunity to send out phishing emails so they could steal Apple ID information and credentials from users.
According to Malwarebytes.org, the phishing emails were first reported on the day Apple was scheduled to launch its much anticipated iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. Those malicious messages contained links to several external Websites, which in turn could spread malware.
Taking opportunity
According to authorities, those online scammers seemed determined to defraud and rob Apple users. They obviously did not care about the persistent news about the product launches. The malicious emails were sent en masse with the aim of harvesting and hacking Apple ID data.
Moreover, Malwarebyte.org also noted that those scammers behind this latest phishing campaign were not just after Apple IDs. Those were also obviously aiming to steal unsuspecting victims’ basic financial details like social security numbers, birthdates, and credit card information.
Those phishing emails may have victimized a lot of Apple customers because the Web pages used looked authentic and of high quality. However, it was evident that the URLs appeared dodgy. Many recipients of the emails may have also noticed that. Those that did not may probably have been compromised.
Strong market share
According to market experts, attacks that target Apple users are usually rare. But online scammers must have already realized that the company’s growing market share could offer more income potential to them. By this time, it is not yet clear how many Apple customers were actually victimized by the phishing scam.
But the experts left a significant advice to those who regularly receive such malicious emails. According to them, consumers who are not very sure about how to deal with such problems should directly contact the company to ask for clarifications.
Cupertino event
September 10 was a busy day not just for Apple AAPL -1.65% but also for Apple users and followers. On that day, the company simultaneously launched two iPhones for the first time. It also made several anticipated announcements like the launch of the iOS 7.
The two iPhones have become the talk of the town. iPhone 5C was particularly controversial because it was surprisingly expensive. Before the launch, many observers thought it would be the affordable version of the high-end iPhone.