Cyberscams Surface Over New Potter Site

Potter fans beware: Cybercriminals are looking to hex users of JK Rowling’s new website, Pottermore, a security firm warns. The site, which offers ebooks and new material, is currently in beta, with limited accessibility—and some hackers are trying to sell early-access accounts for up to $100, the Telegraph reports. Others are offering downloadable accounts via YouTube, often accompanied by fake surveys and other marketing ploys. The downloads aren’t likely to be real accounts, say analysts, and may even be malware.

On top of that, the companies offering the downloads may be distributing user information to questionable marketing firms. Other hackers may trick kids with “scareware” that pretends to have found malware on your PC. “If your kids are happily babbling on about the joys of Pottermore, it may well be worth sitting down with them and pointing out the types of shenanigans they need to avoid,” says an expert. Pottermore's own blog has also issued a warning. (More cybercrime stories.)