Una pericolosissima moda si sta diffondendo su social network e app di messaggistica: perché non bisogna condividere la foto del proprio Green Pass e cosa si rischia
Veronica Nicosia Giornalista scientifico
Laureata in astrofisica, giornalista scientifico e content editor SEO, scrive di tecnologia per magazine online e carta stampata. Nel 2020 approda a Libero Tecnologia
Il Green Pass è la certificazione sull’immunità dal Covid-19 che permette a chi lo possiede di tornare a viaggiare in Italia e in Europa, potendo muoversi liberamente anche tra regioni rosse o arancioni. However, there is a trend that is spreading on social networks and is very dangerous: spreading the photo of the Green Pass online.
More and more users have begun to share on social networks such as Facebook and Instagram, or on messaging apps such as WhatsApp, the photo of their Green Pass. For this reason, even the Privacy Guarantor has intervened, urging users not to do so and pointing out the serious dangers they face. What looks like a harmless photo to share the happiness of a regained freedom is actually a tasty invitation to make attacks on their privacy and security by cyber criminals. The QRCode contained in the Green Pass is anything but unreadable, on the contrary: inside a hacker can easily find all the sensitive information about the user and use it for malicious purposes: from identity theft to even more serious threats.
Green Pass: why the QRCode should not be exposed
The green certificate for Covid-19 vaccine, called Green Pass, consists of a QrCode and a digital signature. Right in the QrCode, which is easy to read as we explain in this article, there is very important information. The personal data, such as name, surname and date of birth, but also the places where the vaccine or the test was carried out, and many other information that if placed in the hands of malicious criminals can be used for intentions far from good.
For this reason, when the fashion to spread the photo of the Green Pass began to spread, the Privacy Guarantor has invited users to prudence. An appeal that was not enough and now the threats for those who own a Green Pass are multiplying.
Green Pass: what are the dangers on WhatsApp
The postal police reported a scam that is circulating on WhatsApp and that targets precisely the Green Pass Covid-19. Many have received the message: "In this link you can download the Green Pass COVID-19 certificate that allows you to move freely throughout Italy without a mask." When you open the link, however, you are presented with a fake institutional page with many counterfeit logos, but so similar to the originals that they are misleading.
Users are asked to scan the QRCode that contains their personal information, but in this way their data is stolen. In other attacks, however, they are asked to fill in a form with the user's data to download the certificate. In both cases, cyber criminals get hold of all the information needed to steal the identity of the unfortunate users.
Green Pass: what are the dangers on Facebook and social
If the scam on WhatsApp is a well-targeted phishing attack by cyber criminals, there is an irresponsible behavior of users that risks putting them in danger. It is those who post their Covid-19 Green Pass QRCode photo on social networks. Whether it's Facebook, Instagram or even Twitter, the danger is always lurking and getting bigger. Any malicious person on the network who has access to that photo
will be able to steal the user's data and use it, putting the user's security at risk.