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Geek Culture / Facebook warning...

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jasuk70
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Dec 2002
Location: Hemel Hempstead
Posted: 9th Dec 2008 16:38
From BBC News Website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/technology/newsid_7773000/7773340.stm

Facebook's 120 million users are being targeted by a virus designed to get hold of sensitive information like credit card details.

'Koobface' spreads by sending a message to people's inboxes, pretending to be from a Facebook friend.

It says "you look funny in this new video" or "you look just awesome in this new video".

By clicking on the link provided they're then asked to watch a "secret video by Tom".

When users try and play the video they're asked to download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

If they do, that's when the virus takes hold and attacks the computer.

Guy Bunker works for Symantec, who make Norton AntiVirus, and says there are two ways Koobface gets people's credit card details.

"It can either wait for you to buy something online and just remember the details you type in on your keyboard.

"Otherwise it can search your computer for any cookies you might have from when you've bought something in the past, and take them from there."

Networking threat

The Facebook case is the latest example of hackers using social networking sites to try to cash in.

MySpace was targeted by Koobface in August.

Security experts say people are far less suspicious about viruses on sites like Facebook because you need to be a member to log in.

Facebook won't give any specifics on how many users have been hit by the virus, only saying it's a small percentage.

But they have posted some advice on the site about what to do if you come across it.

"We're currently helping our users with the recently discovered 'Koobface' worm and phishing sites.

"If your account has recently been used to send spam, please visit one of the online antivirus scanners from the Helpful Links list, and reset your password."

----
"What is this talk of 'release'? Klingons do not'release' software. It escapes leaving a bloody trail of developers and quality assurance people in its wake!"
Tom J
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Aug 2005
Location: Essex, England
Posted: 9th Dec 2008 20:37
Quote: "It says "you look funny in this new video" or "you look just awesome in this new video"."


I got a message like that a while back, its fortunate that I ignored it then =/ (dismissed it as spam like most other notifications from applications and the like)
Yodaman Jer
User Banned
Posted: 9th Dec 2008 21:47
One of my friends on FB had someone hack into his account. So I know he's one of the 'small percentage' that was attacked. It looked as though he sent a few friends of his a video, but luckily people were smart and didn't open the link. He quickly made apologies and fixed his account so that it wouldn't happen again. Darned annoying viruses!



Merry Christmas everyone! And Happy New Year!
soapyfish
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Oct 2003
Location: Yorkshire, England
Posted: 9th Dec 2008 23:14 Edited at: 9th Dec 2008 23:15
People should need to earn a licence before being allowed on the internet, might prevent things like this spreading quite so well. Now I sound like an elitist arse.

"Without beer you may never have done that one thing that you enjoyed while you were doing it." - BearCDP
Agent Dink
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Mar 2004
Location:
Posted: 10th Dec 2008 05:01
Quote: "Now I sound like an elitist arse."


Yep, you do.

MISoft Studios - Silver-Dawn Gorilda is lost!

flickenmaste
17
Years of Service
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Joined: 2nd May 2008
Location:
Posted: 10th Dec 2008 05:42
facebook sux...so does myspace


lol and i have both


[url=http://userbarmaker.com/][img]
Haven Studios
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 17th Jun 2008
Location: My Empire of a Utopia
Posted: 10th Dec 2008 07:22
Yeah....just another reason that most major social networking sites are horrible.

Haven Studios

Add me on Xbox Live PPL :3
Lemonade
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Dec 2008
Location:
Posted: 10th Dec 2008 08:47
FaceBook has gone downhill for quite a while. I receive so many spam E-Mails and notifications it isn't even funny.
Agent Dink
21
Years of Service
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Joined: 30th Mar 2004
Location:
Posted: 10th Dec 2008 16:29
I dunno Facebook is great, and MySpace has really really shaped up lately.

MISoft Studios - Silver-Dawn Gorilda is lost!

Jeku
Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Jul 2003
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posted: 10th Dec 2008 17:08
Quote: "I receive so many spam E-Mails and notifications it isn't even funny."


Simple solution: remove the "friends" who spam you and send you notifications. Problem solved!


Scraggle
Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Jul 2003
Location: Yorkshire
Posted: 10th Dec 2008 20:38
It seems that when you activate this virus, it sends the link to everyone on your friends list.
So, I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to everyone on my friends list because I became a victim to the virus. I just hope nobody else did because of me.



Roxas
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 11th Nov 2005
Location: http://forum.thegamecreators.com
Posted: 10th Dec 2008 21:08
Maybe i should try that on linux :o

Lemonade
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Dec 2008
Location:
Posted: 10th Dec 2008 21:23
Quote: "Simple solution: remove the "friends" who spam you and send you notifications. Problem solved!"


My friends aren't sending me spam, it's FaceBook itself. Yesterday I received an E-Mail telling me someone who I have never heard of has invited me to a group called "Your Invited!". So naturally I accepted the invitation.

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