: Some of these "hack" tools include systems to track "donations" or "premium features," which allow attackers to steal credit card information from users already compromised by the initial software. Useful Research & Analysis Sources

If you are looking for formal analysis of the risks or the ecosystem of VK-related scams, these sources are highly relevant:

Research shows that programs promising free VK votes are almost universally . Instead of providing virtual currency, they are typically used for:

: An in-depth look at how "unreliable software" (including music and vote tools) facilitates large-scale theft of personal data.

: Malicious Chrome extensions and "theme" tools have been used to hijack over 500,000 VK accounts, manipulating settings and subscribing users to attacker-controlled groups.