Ramblings of an old Doc

Facebook most blacklisted site on the net.

I just read this article on TheWindowsClub.com informing on the latest Facebook fiasco and that while supposedly increasing their security measures.

Emsisoft has reported a massive outbreak of new Facebook Malware. One variant even hijacks the user’s Facebook account. Interestingly, it’s passed by using their instant messenger.

Hardly surprising at the site where it’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg’s account was hacked.

Emsisoft discovered the activities of the Facebook threat Trojan-Downloader.Win32.FraudLoad.

Now there is a new version, taking over ones complete Facebook account!

Users of Emsisoft Anti-Malware are already protected from the new variant detected as Worm.Win32.Yimfoca!A2 or Trojan.Win32.Scar!IK.

 

From The Window’s Club: “This Malware uses the Facebook chat system to spread through users. It sends messages to the friends of an infected user, and a link. This link leads to a fake Facebook page stating  “Photo has been Moved.” Everyone clicking “View Photo” obtains the Malware file without even knowing it.”

They go on to explain that “as soon as the file is executed, another browser window is opened,  and either a harmless Myspace or Google page will be opened. The Malware, however remains active invisibly in the background. As soon as the user opens his Facebook account, the malware becomes active again and sends out new photo messages to all friends of the victim. During the next login at Facebook, the login page will be blocked and the malware shows a “Scam Survey” message together with the link “Win an Apple product”. If followed, the user will end up a web page with advertisements or affiliate links.”

“A second variant of this Trojan-Virus shows the message “Today is our 6th Birthday!”, as soon as the Facebook account is opened. If the user changes back to his login page, he sees “Your account has been suspended! The suspend will be released after 80 minutes. The suspend will be disabled only if you fill out one survey!”. The account is not suspended. It’s just a false message from the malware, says Emsisoft. Again the link does not lead to a survey, but to the advertisement page.”

Source: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/new-malware-captures-facebook-account-warns-emsisoft#ixzz1D2V2hKx6


Comments (Page 1)
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on Feb 06, 2011

sad thing is I hate facebook.. yet i still check it once a day out of habit

New malware popping up on social networking sites is a given. To paraphrase willie sutton.

Why do you target social networks with malware?

"cause thats where the people are"

on Feb 06, 2011

Is it just me, or does it seem like Facebook gets mentioned in the news a lot... and always for privacy/security issues?

on Feb 06, 2011

Facebook is like a whiny child, wanting attention.

 

I sent mine to its room years ago, and threw away the key

on Feb 06, 2011

I am looking forward to seeing if Facebook can be toppled.

One upstart is DIASPORA, which will be open source and hopefully free of all the damn garbage like Farmville, etc.

Then there is the guy (former developer) who left Facebook before it exploded and started 'Path' and just turned down 100 million from Google for it.  I'm curious to see what he does with what he is building.

Google wants in the game bad.

I think there is room and a need for a social network but who can create one and keep it 'clean' and free from all this crap that allows data mining, attacks, etc., etc.?  Once they succumb to greed for the almighty dollar and start allowing all these advertisers to purchase info and all that fun stuff, it's just another MySpace.

on Feb 06, 2011

I copied the OP for certain people I know who swear by Facebook. This should put a wrinkle in their collective brains.

on Feb 06, 2011

Being an 'old fart' I never got into these social networking type of programs.   Not trying them looks like it was a smart move on my part.

on Feb 06, 2011

certain people I know who swear by Facebook

At this point, there seem to be quite a few folks who swear at it.

 

on Feb 06, 2011

The best part of Facebook is the stuff which ends up here:  http://failbook.failblog.org/

on Feb 06, 2011

After getting an embedded Trojan, complements of a facebook targeted malware attack, that necessitated reformatting my HD and reinstalling windows, I deleted my facebook account.  BTW, Doc, Yrag, and others were VERY helpful in getting be back up and running.

 

Since facebook continues to be such a high volume target, a malware magnet of sorts, I am happy I deleted the account.   Any suggestions on alternatives?

on Feb 06, 2011

Anything people use will be a malware magnet.

Personally I haven't seen anything but good old social engineering.  'Click this to do something it actually doesn't do at all!'  Whee.

on Feb 06, 2011

I am not pro facebook but I am also not against it. I use it because I have been able to find people I lost contact with. It is also where I first heard about my sister losing her battle with cancer from my Aunt. I am not a phone person and do not even have a landline and not everyone has my email address.

I look at it like this, facebook sucks in many ways and yes there is a chance of getting some type of malware but that can happen with just about any site you visit or at least many. Nothing is guaranteed to be safe. If I get some type of infection I will reformat. It is not the end of the world when you have your stuff backed up.

So for me renewing old acquaintances and keeping informed with important information is worth the risk. I know many will think that is daft and maybe it is but that's fine too. 

on Feb 06, 2011

Facebook was something I avoided with a ten foot pole but I think my mother is daft as well. She has not answered an email from me in over a year, I cannot afford the long distance phone calls to her since I lost my job, she, on the other hand was left quite comfortable in my fathers will but will not call me. So, lo and behold about a month or so ago, I get an email from Facebook telling me that she wants to "be my friend". So, in order to interact with her or the rest of my goofy family on the east coast, it is Facebook or nothing. I don't go there unless I get a message from a family member. I might add that I downloaded some brushes from DA and in the file was a Trojan that took over my account and put $500 worth of charges on my debit card eventhough I expressly told DA not to store my card info. I got it all straightened out but I did not even get an apology and they felt they had no responsibility in the whole thing. So, I guess the point is, no where is safe unless  you are constantly vigilant and keep your systems protection updated and heed it's warnings.

on Feb 06, 2011

Certain things JC 'are' more important. Family for one. And you're right about the risk but in all things there is an upside and a downside, the good with the bad as it were. Keeping backups up to date and restricting who has access is about the best any one can do.

on Feb 06, 2011

Correct Frankief and Uvah and limit who can view your profile and only share basic information. I never open an external link or even view a video someone sends me because your just asking for problems. I post on my wall and send and read messages and that is it. I might still not be safe but I will deal with the bad when and if it comes.

on Feb 06, 2011

I use FB for friends and family and i found people from way back in my past which is cool, Childhood friends, family members, people from when I was in the Navy...etc. FB is not all that bad.

That being said I was notified today that someone tried to hack my FB account, so I had to answer a few security questions and change my password to get back in to my account. FB even showed me where the hack came from.

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