ESET and Kaspersky Warn of Cyber Threats from Social Media and Ad Tech

Cyber‑security firms ESET and Kaspersky issued alerts that everyday online platforms are being turned into intelligence sources for cybercriminals. ESET cautioned that personal details posted on social media – such as travel plans, location data, birth dates, new purchases and family photos – can be harvested for phishing and fraud, urging users to review privacy settings and consider whether each piece of information needs to be shared online.

Kaspersky highlighted that advertising‑technology infrastructure is now being weaponised by advanced‑persistent‑threat groups. Data collected for targeted ads – including interests, browsing habits, device information and approximate location – can be repurposed to identify, track and deliver zero‑click spyware to victims without any interaction. The company reported blocking more than 1.45 million malicious ad‑based campaigns in the first half of 2026 across the Middle East, Turkey and Africa.