DO NOT give access to that app promising a baby pooping video
Giving a random video app access to your Twitter account is a pretty straightforward "nup," right?
Even so, a Twitter phishing scam is tricking people into allowing access to their accounts in order to watch a silly video titled “Baby Poops In His Onesie, But Dog’s Response Leaves Millions Of People In Hysterics."
Before you click it, DO NOT.
The Verge reports that a number of people in the media have been affected this week, including New York Times literary critic Dwight Garner, Fox News' Brit Hume and Mother Jones editor-in-chief Clara Jeffery.
A website with the URL "http://trending-twitter.video," is coercing visitors to authorise an app called "Twitter Video," according to the publisher. The website features thumbnails for videos, like the popular "baby pooping" vid, and only lets you watch them if you authorize access to your Twitter account. Look, we're not going to judge if that kind of video is your thing, but do not click it this time.
Once the genuinely official-looking "Twitter Video" app has been authorised, the app reportedly spams the user with links to videos on the site, and tweets the video without the user's permission.
Here's the offending video, scam-free, which has 13 million views on YouTube because the internet can be a very basic place.
Phishing scams have affected some of the world's biggest companies this year, including Netflix.
If you're worried about whether you've given access to any dodgy third-party apps on Twitter, just hop into "Settings and privacy" and click "Apps." If anything looks odd, revoke its access.
Topics Social Media X/Twitter
Shannon Connellan is Mashable's UK Editor based in London, formerly Mashable's Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives in the Creel House. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about entertainment, tech, social good, science, culture, and Australian horror.
