Can You Get a Virus From Twitter?

Twitter is a popular social media app where people can share their thoughts on the world, funny videos, heartfelt personal moments, and so much more. It’s a great place to build an online community and scroll through a feed of posts that are catered to your interests. 

But like all social media platforms and every digital site, Twitter isn’t 100% safe from viruses. To stay safe while scrolling through your favorite tweets, it’s best to stay updated on how people spread viruses and scams on Twitter so you can keep your feed as clear as possible and focus on what really matters, like funny cat videos. 

Twitter’s Change to X

You’ve probably already heard, but it’s important to mention that the app that was once called Twitter was rebranded as X after Elon Musk bought the company in 2022. Twitter was originally known for its 140-character limit, meaning you could only post short messages and links to photos or videos. 

As time went on, that changed, and Twitter began supporting the inclusion of photos and videos within the app. Now, as X, Twitter supports long-form videos, podcasts, live streaming, and even banking and shopping platforms (some features are only available for Premium subscribers). 

While the expansion of these features offers new, exciting capabilities for users, it also means there are more ways for hackers and cybercriminals to spread viruses and malware through Twitter/X’s platform. 

How Do Viruses Spread on Twitter?

Twitter is widely considered a safe social media app. But like all apps that allow users to post virtually whatever they want, there are always ways for hackers to sneak in malicious software. 

The good thing is that it’s very difficult to get a virus from Twitter just by opening the app and scrolling through your feed. Almost always, you will need to click on a link, download a file, or interact directly with another user in order for a virus to make its way onto your device. 

This means that there is very little risk associated with simply using Twitter. Rather, the risks come with interacting with strangers on the Internet, as is the case with most online websites, platforms, and services. 

Malverposting and Malicious Ads

In 2023, there were 500,000 incidents in which malware had spread via a social media site like Facebook or Twitter through a method called malverposting. Malverposting occurs when a cybercriminal pays for an ad via Twitter and hides malicious software within the posted ad. 

Because they paid for it, Twitter will help push their “ad” out onto more people’s feeds, giving them exposure. Once someone clicks on the post, the malware will install itself on their device, infecting it with whatever virus that’s inside it. 

Often, as in phishing scams, these ad posts will do their best to seem legitimate and appealing. They may appear to be a real brand, professionally designed and seemingly offering a real product or service. 

They may be selling something valuable at a really good price. They might also pose as lotteries or contests with cash prizes and convince you to click on them to enter with the chance to win big. Any number of convincing tactics may be used to get you to click on the post. 

One popular Facebook malverposting scam involved criminals hacking into real business profiles with high following counts and posting click-bait style adult photos en masse. Once people clicked on them, a file containing malware would install itself on their device. 

Malicious Links in Tweets

Another way you can get a virus from Twitter is by clicking on a malicious link within a tweet or video caption. Scammers, fraudsters, and hackers can claim to be linking to any number of legitimate sites within their seemingly harmless tweet. 

They might be sharing a piece of world news and pretending to link to a news article. They might claim to be an independent artist and link to their portfolio. Whatever it is, once you click on that link, the virus has free reign to install onto your device. 

Viruses From Videos

Malware is most often hidden in tangible media like videos, applications, and files that can be downloaded. Usually, in order for the virus to infect your device, you’ll need to download the video from Twitter onto your phone or computer. But drive-by download attacks do exist, which means all you have to do is watch the infected video for the damage to be done. 

A drive-by attack typically aims to weaken your device and leave it susceptible to a future cyber attack, but it can also lead directly to malware infecting your device. Drive-by download attacks can occur even on the most legitimate of sites, so this has little to do with Twitter’s security measures specifically. In general, the chances of you getting a virus from watching a video on Twitter are low. 

Scams and Viruses from Direct Messages

Just like many social media sites, Twitter has a direct messaging platform within the app/website. Your DMs are a place where both mutual followers and strangers can send you private messages, photos, videos, links, and files. As such, it’s also a place where scammers and cybercriminals can try to send malware to your device. 

The private nature of DMs might make some hackers feel safer and less exposed than putting their malware on a public post for all to see. They can send you any of the above media files and embed a virus into a link or attachment with the hopes that you click on it just as you would a post. 

Again, because DMs feel more private, intimate, and sometimes safer, you may be more likely to click on something someone sends you, especially if they’ve been talking with you for a while. 

A number of other scams can occur in the DMs as well, like romance scams, phishing scams, and even identity theft. If a hacker gets into your friend’s Twitter account, they can send you a virus straight from the profile of someone you think you can trust. That’s why it’s so important to take defensive measures in advance to protect yourself from hackers and viruses. 

Signs of a Twitter Virus

Because we use the Internet so often, it can be hard to tell exactly where a virus came from. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell if you even have a virus on your device. But the more you know about the nature of the virus your device has, the more equipped you’ll be to handle the situation and ensure it doesn’t happen again. 

Here are some ways you can tell if you got a virus from Twitter: 

• Glitches or changes in how the Twitter website/app functions and/or error messages
• Ads disappearing 
• DMs you didn’t send in your inbox
• Glitches, lag times, and a quickly draining phone/laptop battery
• Unauthorized logins on your Twitter account and/or unauthorized activity on your account (posts, replies, profile changes, etc.) 

The two main things to look for are unusual activity that you didn’t authorize on your account or changes in your device’s performance without reason. 

How Do I Prevent Viruses on Twitter?

The best things you can do to keep from getting a virus from Twitter are to keep your device updated with current cybersecurity best practices and watch out for red flags while on Twitter. If you do the best you can to protect your device and stay alert, you will be just fine. 

Here are some helpful tips and tricks that will set you up for success in using Twitter safely: 

Keep Your Device Updated

Software updates may seem annoying and tedious, but behind the irksome display changes, almost every update includes bug fixes and improvements in digital vulnerabilities that were present in the previous version. If you keep your device updated, it will be as equipped as possible to defend itself against a virus. 

Use Strong, Unique Passwords

When creating your Twitter account (and for all accounts), use strong passwords that are at least 16 characters long with capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. If need be, use a password manager to keep track of your accounts. This helps reduce the risk of your Twitter account being hacked. 

Install Antivirus Software

Look into installing antivirus software onto your phone and computer so you can have a built-in defense system to stop viruses. Antivirus software can’t always stop everything, but it will only help. 

Use a Private Twitter Account

As with all your social media accounts, you’ll be best protected from unwanted DMs and followers if you make your account private. With Twitter, it’s a bit different. 

Rather than making your profile private, you make your posts private so only your followers can see your activity. This will still help reduce the risk of unwanted commenters and spammers messing with your account. 

Some people might want to keep their Twitter posts public in hopes of maximizing exposure. If you’re going to do this, just make sure you’re being cautious and following the other cybersecurity safety tips. 

Use a Second Phone Number When Signing Up For Twitter

To protect your main phone number from hackers and the viruses they may target you with, it’s a good idea to use a second phone number app like Burner phone for all your social media accounts. 

This way, if your Twitter account gets hacked or you get a virus, your main phone number will stay safe. Try Burner today to experience the benefits of a second number.

Be Cautious With Unknown People and Media On Twitter

As always, use caution when dealing with strangers and unknown accounts online. Never give out personal information to people you don’t know on Twitter, never send money, and never click on any links or download any files that are sent to you. 

Look For: Bad Grammar/Spelling

A telltale sign of a scam or attempted fraud via social media is poor spelling/grammar. Look out for posts that seem authoritative or appear to be from real companies, but contain errors. This may be within the written text of a post, a video caption, a DM, an ad, etc. It may also be the user’s name. Their name may be close to a real company, but off by a letter or two. 

Look For: An Urgent Call to Action

Almost all viruses on Twitter require you to click on a link or download a file in order for the virus to install. Because of this, many posts will often feature an urgent call to action. 

They will tell the viewer to quickly do something in hopes they’ll feel pressured into clicking on the malicious link or download. Many real ads do have a call to action of sorts, but look out for ones that are especially forceful or urgent. 

The same thing goes for DMs. If someone you don’t know, or even someone you do, pressures you into sending them money or personal information, it’s probably a scam attempt. If they pressure you into checking out something they sent you, it could be a virus. 

Look For: Deals Too Good to be True

We all love the idea that a new iPhone would be on sale for $20, but unfortunately, this is never going to be the case. A common tactic scammers use to get you to click on their malicious links is advertising deals that are simply too good to be true. 

The same goes for sweepstakes, contests, lotteries, and prizes. Use your best judgment and be realistic about what real companies would be offering on Twitter. 

So, Can You Get a Virus From Twitter? 

The short answer is yes, you can get a virus while using Twitter. But almost always, this virus will come from an individual post, ad, DM, or media file uploaded by an individual user, which can and will happen on any social media platform. 

The key is to remain cautious and keep from clicking on suspicious posts to reduce the risk of getting a virus. Twitter is considered a safe site, so sit back, relax, keep your wits about you, and tweet away.

Sources: 

Twitter is now X. Here's what that means. | CBS News

Virus on Twitter: Avoiding Malware on X | BlogEraser

Troubling malware threat spreading on Facebook and Twitter | Fox News