Spotify has been found to be serving malware to listeners who use the free version of its service, with its adverts directing PC users to virus-riddled websites.

Users of the music streaming software reported that the program would continually open their default web browser to load websites infested with malware.

The issue affected users of Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems, leading to complaints on the Spotify Community website and Twitter. The malware websites, some of which attempt to install viruses automatically without the user clicking anything, appear to have nothing to do with the advert in question.