Naruto, One Piece, Demon Slayer fans — watch out for ‘exclusive episodes' and leaked scenes. Here's why
If you're a fan of anime classics like
Naruto
,
One Piece
,
Demon Slayer
,
Attack on Titan
, or
Jujutsu Kaisen
, here's an important warning: beware of any links offering exclusive episodes, leaked scenes, or premium access. They could be traps set by cybercriminals.
According to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, over 251,000 attempts were made to deliver malware or unwanted files disguised as content from these popular anime titles. These scams often exploit Gen Z's strong connection to anime by using clickbait to lure unsuspecting users.
Among the top targets:
Naruto topped the list with 114,216 attack attempts — proving its enduring popularity despite airing over 20 years ago.
Demon Slayer followed with 44,200 attempts, fueled by its recent global success.
Live Events
Attack on Titan ranked third with 39,433 malicious activity detections.
But it's not just anime. Kaspersky also tracked malware campaigns using the names of hit Gen Z favorites like Shrek, Stranger Things, Twilight, Inside Out 2, and Deadpool & Wolverine. These titles alone were linked to over 43,000 attack attempts in early 2025 — with Shrek surprisingly leading the way, spiking to more than double its 2024 monthly average in March.
Cybercriminals are also targeting streaming platform names. Kaspersky detected over 96,000 attempts involving fake branding of services like Netflix,
Amazon Prime Video
, Disney+, Apple TV+, and
HBO Max
.
Netflix
was most exploited, with 85,679 attack attempts and over 2.8 million phishing pages mimicking its look.
'From beloved anime like Naruto to blockbusters like Inside Out 2, scammers are exploiting Gen Z's passion for digital content,' said Vasily Kolesnikov, a security expert at Kaspersky. 'As these threats grow, it's critical for young users to stay alert and learn how to protect themselves online.'
Bottom line: If a link promises free access to unreleased content — think twice. It could cost more than you expect.
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