Can I Get A Virus From Soap2day? [And How to Stay Safe]

Many popular free streaming websites are riddled with dangerous pop-ups, links, and malware. Is Soap2day an exception or can you get a virus from it?

In this article, we’ve closely inspected the website, looked into the potential threats, and shared tips on how to stay safe.

Let’s get cracking!

What is Soap2day and is it safe?

Soap2Day is a popular website that streams a wide variety of movies and TV shows for free. You don’t have to log in or subscribe — you can start watching immediately.

It was created in 2018, and since then it has become one of the most visited websites for free streaming.

Strictly speaking, it’s not a legal service by any means. All of its content is pirated and copyrighted.

Soap2day doesn’t possess a license for any of it.

It’s also been delisted from the Google index because of hosting copyrighted content.

And let’s not forget that most countries will penalize you for watching and downloading illegal movies and TV shows!

Other than that, there are some security concerns.

For one, Soap2day has multiple domains, so it can be tricky to navigate your way to the right one. 

You can find the current official domains on soap2day.org.

But, some of the unofficial domains are harmful websites posing as the real thing.

Soap2day confirms this:

The sites requiring mandatory login and registration are not ours. We never upload any TS & CAM movies or episodes. Please be careful to identify those fake sites.

Additionally, you’ll find many ads and pop-ups even on the official websites. Some of them can be very persistent and hard to close.

Can you get a virus from Soap2day? 

Evidently, Soap2day is unsafe. You could get a virus from it if you’re not careful enough.

First, the multiple domains could trick you into visiting a fake website that will ask you for your credentials.

Do not share your email or login details, as it will steal them and use them to gain access to your other accounts.

On top of that, Soap2day is riddled with ads.

You’ll often have to close a few of them just to get to the video player.

Some of them may redirect you to a malicious website, where you could download a harmful file.

And to make matters worse, sometimes you can’t simply click the little x to close them, as that will open a new pop-up. 

Soap2day even admits this:

This page has pop-ups and native ads. Pop-up ads sometimes automatically open a link when you click anywhere on the page.

It’s very hard to stay safe if you have to be mindful of every single click.

What are the potential threats?

So, what kind of dangers lurk on Soap2day? Here are some of the most common threats:

1. Page hijacking

During page hijacking, malicious actors create a near-identical copy of a legitimate website and try to reroute regular users to it.

They use these duplicates to spread malware, execute phishing attacks, and boost their own traffic.

The attackers often manage to push the legitimate website out of the way and get shown first in Google Search.

Here’s how that works.

When two pages have the same content, one gets indexed and displayed, while the other is kept in Show Similar Pages.

So, during page hijacking, the attackers use malicious black hat SEO techniques to ensure that their page gets shown instead.

2. Phishing

Hackers can use Soap2day’s duplicates to perform phishing attacks and convince you to give out sensitive data.

This phishing tactic is less common, as attackers mostly use emails lately.

Still, do not underestimate it. They can use your info to steal your identity and funds.

More often, scammers send emails that mimic legitimate and trustworthy organizations like Walmart.

They use the same logos, phrasing, and typefaces to trick their victims.

Usually, they create a sense of urgency in the message to push people into clicking their links and attachments.

For example, the attackers could claim that your account is about to expire.

People are more likely to make mistakes under such pressure.

3. Viruses

Viruses are a form of malware that attaches themselves to another program and spreads when the victim runs the program.

So, in order to work, it requires a host and user action so it can transmit from one system to another.

Viruses can destroy data, slow down system resources, log keystrokes, and seize apps.

Here are some signs that you might be infected: 

• Your computer runs slower than usual and crashes frequently.
• You can’t log in or access certain files.
• Unknown programs are loading on your screen.
• Your screen is full of pop-ups and spam.
• Your antivirus has stopped working.
• Your browser’s homepage randomly switches to another webpage.
• Your battery is draining more quickly.
• Your email account is sending messages on its own.

4. Ransomware

Ransomware attackers employ encryption to lock your device and demand payment (often via cryptocurrency) to restore access.

There are three main types:

• Scareware — Scareware mostly involves security software scams. You might receive a message saying that malware has been detected on your device, and you need to pay up to get rid of it. You’ll be fine as long as you ignore them.
• Screen lockers — Screen lockers are more threatening because they indicate that you’ve been locked out of your PC. You’ll encounter a fake FBI warning screen while starting up your computer, demanding you pay a fine for illegal activities.
• Encrypting ransomware — Hackers relying on encrypting ransomware stop you from accessing your files unless you give in to their demands. This is the most dangerous type of ransomware since there’s no way for you to restore your files by yourself.

Either way, ransomware can lead to data loss and financial loss.

5. Trojans

Trojans deceive users into running seemingly trustworthy programs. They are not to be confused with adware and PUP, although they are similar.

Victims can get infected while:

• Downloading cracked applications and unknown free programs
• Visiting shady websites
• Opening malicious attachments.

Trojans are designed to insert even more malware into users’ devices, steal data, and spy.

Backdoors Trojan attacks even allow hackers to gain remote access to your computer.

6. Worms

Worms are a subset of Trojans that doesn’t require a host or human action to activate and replicate.

They usually rely on social engineering to reach devices and systems.

They can spread via phishing, networks with shared access, security holes, P2P file sharing, social networks, and external devices.

Once a worm breaches your defenses, it can:

• Infect you with more malware
• Open a backdoor
• Steal data
• Delete files
• Consume bandwidth
• Overload networks.

One of the most devastating worms was called ILOVEYOU. It infected millions of computers worldwide.

7. Adware

Are you being mercilessly bombarded with ads lately? If so, you might be infected with adware.

It’s a form of malware designed to throw advertisements at you, most commonly within your browser.

It can mask itself as a legitimate, safe program, or piggyback on another program to reach your system.

Freeware and shareware are especially risky because the program authors can cooperate with adware vendors. Thanks to the advertisements, the program can then be offered “for free.”

Once it’s inside, it can monitor your internet activity and serve you ads based on the websites you visit.

8. Spyware

Spyware secretly infects your computer and attaches itself to your operating system. It runs quietly in the background and gathers information about you.

That includes your downloads, visited websites, emails, passwords and usernames, and payment information.

You can get it via phishing, security exploits and backdoors, freeware, and Trojans.

Some of the most widespread types of spyware are:

• Keyloggers — record and capture computer activity, such as keystrokes, emails, search history, and system credentials. They regularly take screenshots of your current active windows.
• Infostealers — scan your computer for sensitive information, like passwords, usernames, browser history, email addresses, documents, log files, etc. They can locally store all collected info or transmit it to an online service or location.
• Password stealers — specifically harvest passwords and stored credentials. It also may install additional malware or make your device become part of a botnet.

9. Rootkits

Rootkits are a particularly insidious type of malware that allows hackers to take control of your computer.

They enable root-level access, which means the malicious actor can pretty much do anything: disable your antivirus, steal sensitive data, or execute other malware.

Worst of all, they’re very hard to detect. They don’t display the usual warning signs and may bypass your security software.

Depending on where they reside, they can be classified as firmware, bootloader, kernel, memory, and application rootkits.

10. Botnets

Botnets are networks of computers used to execute mass attacks.

They’re comprised of bots or zombie computers that run automated scripts and are controlled by bot herders.

The bot herder is fully in charge of the infected devices and uses command programming to remotely direct them.

Botnets are typically employed for:

• Mass email spam campaigns
• Fake Internet traffic generation
• DDoS attacks
• RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) attacks
• IoT (Internet of Things) attacks.

Additionally, they’re used for cryptocurrency scams, financial and information theft, and selling access to other criminals.

How to stay safe? 

Did you know that poor and reused passwords lead to 80% of breaches?

Here are some security tips to keep yourself safe and protected on Soap2day:

Most of these tips are very easy to follow and will make a huge difference.

For example, you’ll be three times less likely to get hacked if you’re using a password manager.

But, you can boost your defenses even more by installing a reputable antivirus and VPN.

Get an antivirus

Danger happens when you least expect it online, with sudden redirections and drive-by downloads. But, with a reliable antivirus, you won’t be caught off guard.

And for this, we recommend TotalAV!

It has a surprisingly capable free version that you can use to scan your files. But the full app is the real deal with real-time protection and more.

You can execute quick, system, smart, and custom scans to identify malware.

When the scan is completed, you can choose to quarantine, whitelist, or delete each detected malicious file.

Furthermore, real-time protection is enabled by default and is constantly scanning for threats.

Best of all, it’s a low-power process, so you can easily keep it on at all times.

On top of that, TotalAV’s WebShield will automatically block untrustworthy websites, ransomware, phishing websites, and URLs associated with crypto mining.

There’s also a handy password manager that will store and generate all your passwords. 

Use a VPN

Additionally, you’ll need a robust VPN for streaming and privacy. ExpressVPN is our top pick for this task.

It has 3000+ servers in 94 countries. You could watch Soap2day anywhere, even if it’s blocked in your country.

You’ll also love its Lightway protocol. It’s considerably faster than OpenVPN but just as secure.

ExpressVPN uses private DNS on each server, paired with AES-256 encryption. 

Most importantly, it doesn’t log traffic data or DNS queries. Your online activities stay private.

One more thing:

ExpressVPN’s threat manager will keep you safe from trackers and harmful websites. Its blocklist gets regularly updated with new addresses you need to avoid.

Finally, ExpressVPN supports up to five simultaneous connections on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, various SmartTV devices, and routers.

Conclusion

So, if you were wondering: Can I get a virus from Soap2day? now you know the answer.

Unfortunately, Soap2day is unsafe.

It has many pop-ups that may redirect you to hazardous websites.

What’s more, there are even dangerous duplicates that are trying to trick you into signing in.

You should practice basic cybersecurity when visiting the website. Additionally, a good antivirus and VPN combo will guarantee your safety.

Good luck and stay safe out there!