Twitter worm that spreads through DM

Dana_W · 09-23-2009, 04:35 PM

This is a Mashable article about one of the latest Twitter worms:

WARNING: Twitter Worm Spreading via Direct Messages

I got this DM and it's particularly sneaky. When you get a message saying something "ROTFL! Is that you in this video?" Immediately you're going to want to see what video they're talking about.

Of course it's some weird worm-thing where if you click on the link...it takes you to a fake Twitter home page where you are supposed to enter your name and password.

And then when you DO, it sounds out that same sneaky message from YOUR account, to all of your Twitter followers.

Bottom line - be very cautious about clicking on ANY link in a Twitter direct message, even if it appears to be from a friend. Your friend may have been duped. And don't EVER click on a link in a Twitter DM and then enter your name and Twitter password.

Dan C. Rinnert · 09-23-2009, 04:39 PM

I thought those were suspicious when I received two earlier today.

It looks very similar to an URL that was used for a similar phishing scheme earlier in the year. I suspected they would take me to a fake Twitter login page, but didn't try it out.

I think the phishing scheme earlier this year--or at least one of them--used this same tactic of a video that purportedly had you in it.

Andyhenry · 09-23-2009, 04:48 PM

I must be crazy - I got a bunch of those and just deleted them and unfollowed the people who sent them.

They're OBVIOUSLY spam and I didn't give them a second thought.

But it's good of you to mention them here as some people new to Twitter would probably get suckered in.

Thanks for caring.

Andy

Dan C. Rinnert · 09-23-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andyhenry

I must be crazy - I got a bunch of those and just deleted them and unfollowed the people who sent them.

They're OBVIOUSLY spam and I didn't give them a second thought.

But, they weren't spam. Probably most of the people "sending" them were victims who fell for the scheme.

Chris Stigson · 09-23-2009, 05:08 PM

Yeah, too many wierd DM's now a days... I don't even check mine too often anymore! Cause overwhelmed with Spam, bad links to crap and other "get rich in 30 seconds" stuff... =(

- Chris

linkedinlincoln · 09-23-2009, 05:29 PM

Sounds like an exact copy of a worm that was spreading through MSN messenger earlier this year.

The MSN version actually infected the host computer (not sure what the point was) so I hope that this new twitter worm is web based only!

-Kathy

Dana_W · 09-23-2009, 08:04 PM

The sad thing is that some people who are too trusting will fall for this, and then their good name will be ruined when the phishers send out emails using their accounts. I mean, when I get a scam email I tend to think the person who sent it is a sleazy spammer, but in all fairness, they could have had their account hacked into with one of these ruses.

I am PETRIFIED of that happening to me on Twitter! So just to let you know - I don't send out DMs asking anyone to click on a link, or trying to sell you anything!

JimHardin · 09-23-2009, 08:13 PM

Thanks for the tip...those worms are out there everywhere. I guess you have to keep your eyes peeled

meldave · 09-23-2009, 08:46 PM

Pc World published an article about the scam about 3 hours ago stating how it had been reported on the Mashable blog earlier in the day. You always have to keep your head in the game.

David

whateverpedia · 09-23-2009, 09:21 PM

Thanks for the heads up. Eternal vigliance, our best defence.

Not quite sure what the purpose of this worm is. Is it just to clog up the web with crap? Harvest people's details? Or the first step to something bigger? Hmmm.

Andyhenry · 09-23-2009, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

But, they weren't spam. Probably most of the people "sending" them were victims who fell for the scheme.

OK - in my Twitter world, that's how I classify them. I just saw them and immediately unfollowed the people who sent them.

If they're people I usually interact with I'd either notice, or they'd reply to my tweets and I'd end up following them again anyway.

Either way - I don't give it a moments thought.

Michael Brown · 09-23-2009, 10:13 PM

Thanks for the heads up. I haven't been able to use DM's (Something is technically wrong.

"Thanks for noticing—we're going to fix it up and have things back to normal soon.") for a few weeks now anyway so maybe its a good thing I haven't.
Mike

Neil Kieren · 09-23-2009, 10:53 PM

Somehow this worm seems very familiar...

Dana_W · 09-24-2009, 07:01 AM

Yesterday I got about a dozen DMs, all from different people, saying "I make $300-500 a day online - here's how!" with a link to some sales page. I checked one of the senders Twitter home page - he didn't seem like the type to send that kind of DM. He wasn't a marketer and none of his tweets were sales-y.

So I sent HIM a DM telling him I got that DM from him and asking if he meant to send that to me. He apologized to me and said he'd been the victim of a hacker.

I'm going to try to do more of that in the future - yes, it takes more time, but I hate to Twitter-block innocent people, and if I were the victim of that kind of phishing/hacking I would want someone to tell me.

DotComBum · 09-24-2009, 07:08 AM

Twitter is actually a dangerous place, don't click any link in DM.

bobsstuff · 09-24-2009, 09:02 AM

HMMMmmmmmmmmm! Maybe those Twitter DM messages I've been deleting were "wormy". I keep getting odd seeming messages and just delete them. I guess it is a good thing. .

09-23-2009, 04:35 PM	#1
Dana_W Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Florida, USA. Posts: 2,643 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 507 Thanked 549 Times in 219 Posts Social Networking	Twitter worm that spreads through DM This is a Mashable article about one of the latest Twitter worms: WARNING: Twitter Worm Spreading via Direct Messages I got this DM and it's particularly sneaky. When you get a message saying something "ROTFL! Is that you in this video?" Immediately you're going to want to see what video they're talking about. Of course it's some weird worm-thing where if you click on the link...it takes you to a fake Twitter home page where you are supposed to enter your name and password. And then when you DO, it sounds out that same sneaky message from YOUR account, to all of your Twitter followers. Bottom line - be very cautious about clicking on ANY link in a Twitter direct message, even if it appears to be from a friend. Your friend may have been duped. And don't EVER click on a link in a Twitter DM and then enter your name and Twitter password.

09-23-2009, 04:39 PM	#2
Dan C. Rinnert I have a lame list. War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: One Second into the Future Posts: 4,256 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 811 Thanked 2,177 Times in 1,003 Posts Social Networking	Re: Twitter worm that spreads through DM I thought those were suspicious when I received two earlier today. It looks very similar to an URL that was used for a similar phishing scheme earlier in the year. I suspected they would take me to a fake Twitter login page, but didn't try it out. I think the phishing scheme earlier this year--or at least one of them--used this same tactic of a video that purportedly had you in it.
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09-23-2009, 04:48 PM	#3
Andyhenry Beware - Straight Talker War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 9,263 Blog Entries: 25 Thanks: 1,180 Thanked 4,492 Times in 1,497 Posts Social Networking	Re: Twitter worm that spreads through DM I must be crazy - I got a bunch of those and just deleted them and unfollowed the people who sent them. They're OBVIOUSLY spam and I didn't give them a second thought. But it's good of you to mention them here as some people new to Twitter would probably get suckered in. Thanks for caring. Andy
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09-23-2009, 05:08 PM	#5
Chris Stigson LazyMillionDollars.com War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uppsala , Sweden. Posts: 1,129 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 48 Times in 24 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Twitter worm that spreads through DM Yeah, too many wierd DM's now a days... I don't even check mine too often anymore! Cause overwhelmed with Spam, bad links to crap and other "get rich in 30 seconds" stuff... =( - Chris
	If you're not reading my blog, you are missing out on some awesome money making content and fun... NEW - How I Got 107,037+ FREE Targeted Visitors... And Made Over $11,537+ In The Process! <= Check This Out!

09-23-2009, 05:29 PM	#6
linkedinlincoln Active Warrior Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 34 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Twitter worm that spreads through DM Sounds like an exact copy of a worm that was spreading through MSN messenger earlier this year. The MSN version actually infected the host computer (not sure what the point was) so I hope that this new twitter worm is web based only! -Kathy

09-23-2009, 08:04 PM	#7
Dana_W Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Florida, USA. Posts: 2,643 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 507 Thanked 549 Times in 219 Posts Social Networking	Re: Twitter worm that spreads through DM The sad thing is that some people who are too trusting will fall for this, and then their good name will be ruined when the phishers send out emails using their accounts. I mean, when I get a scam email I tend to think the person who sent it is a sleazy spammer, but in all fairness, they could have had their account hacked into with one of these ruses. I am PETRIFIED of that happening to me on Twitter! So just to let you know - I don't send out DMs asking anyone to click on a link, or trying to sell you anything!

09-23-2009, 08:13 PM	#8
JimHardin Warrior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MA Posts: 28 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Social Networking	Re: Twitter worm that spreads through DM Thanks for the tip...those worms are out there everywhere. I guess you have to keep your eyes peeled
	Jim Hardin http://www.jimyjack.com

09-23-2009, 08:46 PM	#9
meldave Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 70 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Twitter worm that spreads through DM Pc World published an article about the scam about 3 hours ago stating how it had been reported on the Mashable blog earlier in the day. You always have to keep your head in the game. David
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09-23-2009, 09:21 PM	#10
whateverpedia Yeah, yeah, whatever War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wherever Posts: 400 Thanks: 272 Thanked 537 Times in 329 Posts Social Networking	Re: Twitter worm that spreads through DM Thanks for the heads up. Eternal vigliance, our best defence. Not quite sure what the purpose of this worm is. Is it just to clog up the web with crap? Harvest people's details? Or the first step to something bigger? Hmmm.
	Which one of you buggers stole my sig file?

09-23-2009, 10:13 PM	#12
Michael Brown Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Evergreen CO. Posts: 28 Thanks: 115 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts Social Networking	Re: Twitter worm that spreads through DM Thanks for the heads up. I haven't been able to use DM's (Something is technically wrong. "Thanks for noticing—we're going to fix it up and have things back to normal soon.") for a few weeks now anyway so maybe its a good thing I haven't. Mike

09-23-2009, 10:53 PM	#13
Neil Kieren Crazy Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 Thanked 30 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Twitter worm that spreads through DM Somehow this worm seems very familiar...
	> n.E.i.L <

09-24-2009, 07:01 AM	#14
Dana_W Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Florida, USA. Posts: 2,643 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 507 Thanked 549 Times in 219 Posts Social Networking	Re: Twitter worm that spreads through DM Yesterday I got about a dozen DMs, all from different people, saying "I make $300-500 a day online - here's how!" with a link to some sales page. I checked one of the senders Twitter home page - he didn't seem like the type to send that kind of DM. He wasn't a marketer and none of his tweets were sales-y. So I sent HIM a DM telling him I got that DM from him and asking if he meant to send that to me. He apologized to me and said he'd been the victim of a hacker. I'm going to try to do more of that in the future - yes, it takes more time, but I hate to Twitter-block innocent people, and if I were the victim of that kind of phishing/hacking I would want someone to tell me.

09-24-2009, 07:08 AM	#15
DotComBum Advanced Warrior Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 567 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 3 Thanked 34 Times in 33 Posts Social Networking	Re: Twitter worm that spreads through DM Twitter is actually a dangerous place, don't click any link in DM.
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09-24-2009, 09:02 AM	#16
bobsstuff Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: So Calif USA. Posts: 1,836 Thanks: 173 Thanked 56 Times in 36 Posts	Re: Twitter worm that spreads through DM HMMMmmmmmmmmm! Maybe those Twitter DM messages I've been deleting were "wormy". I keep getting odd seeming messages and just delete them. I guess it is a good thing. .
	Bob Hale