Facebook Tests Volatility Of Malware And Phishing From Swine Flu
By Dan Morrill
Expert Author
Article Date: 2009-05-06
Early news reports indicate that a new phishing attack is happening at Facebook right now, so be very careful what e-mails you click on. With all the attention that phishing and malware is getting between the swine flu and other events happening right now, this is a good time to remind folks, be careful of what e-mails you click on.
We've received multiple tips of a new phishing attack that has broken out on Facebook. If you get an email message that looks to be from Facebook with the subject, "Hello," and featuring the text below, don't bother clicking on the link included. Doing so takes you to a site called fbaction.net that mimics the look of the main Facebook login page, hoping to get you to sign in. Naturally, if you do that, the site will have access to your account and can send out more of these messages to your friends. Source: Techcrunch
The swine flu is also getting the attention of malware writers who are loading up web sites with malware, that have all the search strings as SEO to attract the unwary. Malware often follows major trends in the news, and the current not quite yet pandemic on the swine flu is no exception. Malware goes where the people are, and this week it is facebook and the flu. Scammers are using the swine flu to drop malware or even just simply make money by selling bogus meds, or harmful medications. This has become so prevalent that even the BBB (Better Business Bureau) is putting out an announcement.
The BBB is warning consumers to be on the look-out for fraudulent emails and new websites aimed at taking advantage of the current situation of the swine flu outbreak. Source: ABC News
While folks are jumping on everything right now to get you to do something silly, just be careful out there, scammers are stepping up the heat big time over the last few days.
Comments
About the Author:
Dan Morrill runs Techwag, a site all about his views on social media, education, technology, and some of the more interesting things that happen on the internet. He works at CityU of Seattle as the Program Director for the Computer Science, Information Systems and Information Security educational programs.
|
