close 'The Five': Neil Young returns to Spotify after protesting platform "The Five" co-hosts react to Neil Young returning to Spotify and woke musicians bailing on Texas' SXSW festival over military ties. Many of us use Spotify every day, whether to listen to songs, podcasts or audiobooks. Some of us create playlists of our favorite songs, while others save playlists made by others.In case you didnt know, Spotify allows you to create public playlists that anyone can save and listen to. Youd think this is a harmless feature, but spammers have found a way to misuse it.Theyre using Spotify playlists and podcasts to push pirated software, game cheat codes, spam links and malware sites. Ill discuss the details of this emerging online scam and share tips on how to stay safe. Image of Spotify app on phone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)How the Spotify scam worksAs reported byBleepingComputer, this scam works by misusing Spotifys popularity and trustworthiness. Scammers exploit Spotify playlists by injecting targeted keywords, such as "free download," "crack" or "warez," into titles and descriptions.These keywords are designed to align with popular search terms. Since Spotifys web player pages are indexed by search engines like Google, these spammy results appear in user searches, driving traffic to their links. For example, a Spotify playlist titled "Sony Vegas Pro 13 Crack" was found promoting "free" software sites in its title and description, directing users to questionable external links.The scam isnt limited to playlists. It extends to podcasts as well. Scammers create podcasts with multiple short episodes, typically under 20 seconds, using synthesized speech to direct listeners to click links in the description for free content. These podcasts often target users searching for pirated ebooks, audiobooks or game cheats. While the content may appear legitimate at first glance, clicking on the links often results in being redirected to unsafe pages that further exploit users. Scammers exploit Spotify playlists by injecting targeted keywords into titles (BleepingComputer)The end goalThe main goal of this scam is to use Spotifys trusted reputation and search engine visibility to get people to click on shady links and visit sketchy websites. Scammers make money through fake ad clicks, bogus surveys and affiliate links, while also spreading malware by tricking users into downloading harmful software or extensions.They also try to steal personal info through fake sign-up forms or phishing pages, which can lead to identity theft or be sold to others. By using Spotifys indexed pages, they boost the search rankings of their spam sites, reaching more people. Some of these sites even run extra scams like fake crypto giveaways or phishing attempts to grab even more money or data from unsuspecting users.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Spotify playlist promoting Sony Vegas Pro "crack" (BleepingComputer)7 ways to stay safe from Spotify scams1. Avoid clicking on suspicious links: Be cautious when you come across playlists or podcasts with titles like "Sony Vegas Pro 13 Crack" or other promises of free software, audiobooks or game cheats. These often include links in the description that redirect to unsafe sites hosting malware, adware or phishing pages.The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.2. Stick to official sources: Always download software, eBooks or other digital content from trusted official websites or reputable platforms. If you see a Spotify playlist or podcast offering "free" versions of paid content, its likely a scam. Cross-check the legitimacy of the content through known channels instead of relying on unverified links.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE3. Use strong, unique passwords: Create complex and unique passwords for your Spotify account and avoid using personal information like birthdays or pet names. Consider using apassword manager to generate and store complex passwords.4. Be skeptical of synthesized speech and short episodes: Many scam podcasts feature short episodes (10-20 seconds) with synthesized speech directing you to click on a link in the description. These are a common tactic used to trick users into visiting unsafe pages. If the content feels automated, vague or overly promotional, its best to avoid it.5. Verify curator credentials: Check the credentials of playlist curators. Legitimate curators usually have a verifiable online presence. If you can't find any information about them, it's best to avoid engaging with them.6. Recognize phishing attempts: Be cautious of emails claiming to be from Spotify that ask you to confirm account details or click on suspicious links. These are often phishing attempts designed to steal your credentials.7. Report and block suspicious content: If you come across playlists or podcasts that seem fraudulent or inappropriate,report them directly to Spotify. Use Spotifys reporting tools to flag content that violates its platform rules. Blocking suspicious accounts or playlists also ensures you wont accidentally interact with them in the future, and reporting helps Spotify improve its filtering and moderation systems.Kurts key takeawayScammers will use any means possible to trick you. In the past, weve seen bad actors weaponizeGoogle search results with malicious websites that install malware when links are clicked on. There have also been plenty ofSEO scams targeting users. Companies like Spotify need to implement measures to prevent their platforms from being misused by scammers. Google also has a responsibility to ensure the quality of its search results. Just because a webpage comes from a well-known organization doesnt mean it deserves to rank highly on the search results pages.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPDo you think platforms like Spotify and Google are doing enough to prevent scams, or could they improve? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Try CyberGuy's new games (crosswords, word searches, trivia and more!)Enter CyberGuy's $500 Holiday Gift Card SweepstakesBest gifts for Men | Women | Kids | Teens | Pet loversCopyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.