Following the death of Pope Francis, cybercriminals have launched a series of scams and malware attacks, exploiting public interest and grief. An illustrative photo originally published in February 2025. It has unfortunately now spread to numerous forums and social media sites forcing them to visit malicious sites. This latest incident is a prime example of just how quickly and how deeply cybercriminals are willing to exploit global events for their benefit. They weaponize disinformation to deploy malware and perpetrate scams at scale.
The resurgence of the AI-generated image, which leads to malware, exemplifies a tactic frequently employed by cybercriminals during significant global events. These types of disinformation campaigns are purposely crafted to prey on the public’s curiosity and confusion, leading unsuspecting users to dangerous websites. In the past, we’ve witnessed this strategy implemented before major national events. Malicious actors took advantage of times such as the death of Queen Elizabeth II and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Security software company Check Point Software Technologies has been watching these trends. We asked Check Point Software Technologies Security Engineer Rafa Lopez to comment on the exploitation of Pope Francis’ death.
"Cybercriminals thrive on chaos and curiosity. Every time there’s a significant global event, we see an immediate spike in scams designed to exploit public interest." - Rafa Lopez, Security Engineer at Check Point Software Technologies
As Lopez points out, cybercriminals are very opportunistic. They’re never more than a step behind when it comes to turning major occurrences around the globe to their nefarious ends. These tactics run the gamut from attacking critical infrastructure to distributing malware and inciting scams, but disinformation presents itself as an especially pernicious weapon.
The recent exploitation of AI-generated content to deliver malware is a reminder of how quickly cyber threats can become more sophisticated and dangerous. Cybercriminals have used this new tool to create AI-generated fake images and news articles to fool their targets. This strategy massively increases their odds of success with attacks. Continue to be alert and think critically about the information you find online. This is critically needed in times of heightened public interest and emotionalism.
