Social Signals, Malicious Motives: Emojis as a Cyber Weapon
- Date:October 21, 2025
- Author(s):
- Disha Bheda
- Tracy (Kitten) Goldberg
- Report Details: 6 pages, 2 graphics
- Research Topic(s):
- Cybersecurity
- PAID CONTENT
Overview
Emojis make communication easy and seemingly harmless, but their meaning is open to interpretation. Cybercriminals use emojis as cyber weapons to circumvent antivirus software and email filtering to spread malware and infostealers. This Javelin Strategy & Research impact note looks at how cybercriminals are using these icons for malicious ends, outlines the risks to financial institutions, and prescribes ways to combat the problem.
Companies Mentioned:
Discord, Domino’s, Sephora, Taco Bell, Telegram
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