Are You On Facebook, Then Read. It's Important

17 replies
This came from the Beeb

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."
Guy Bunker from Symantec says the virus is easy to get rid of.
He said: "You can either just download some anti-virus softrware from the web. Or you can do it yourself.
"Just go to your Windows directory and search for these two files: tmark2.dat and mstre6.exe.
"If you find either of them delete them straight away."
#facebook #important #read
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Ambrose
    I can't see it either :/
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan Ambrose
        Originally Posted by Bev Clement View Post

        "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."
        Why do these people do this. PUNKS is what they are.

        Do you think there could be some massive conspiracy that Norton secretly launches these viruses to maintain sales of the program that blocks them?

        If there were no viruses out there, then how would Norton Antivirus make money?? hmmm

        Either way.. I can't stand viruses!
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        • Originally Posted by mm365 View Post

          Why do these people do this. PUNKS is what they are.

          Do you think there could be some massive conspiracy that Norton secretly launches these viruses to maintain sales of the program that blocks them?

          If there were no viruses out there, then how would Norton Antivirus make money?? hmmm

          Either way.. I can't stand viruses!

          It's not, the antivirus companies bail hackers that get caught out of prison and make them come work for them. I'd be pretty sure they're in the virus making business, cause without viruses they'd be out of a job. I always told my dad who ran a glass shop that he should give out free bricks to local hooligans to create more work opportunities
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          • Profile picture of the author danielmcclure
            Originally Posted by YellowDot Software View Post

            It's not, the antivirus companies bail hackers that get caught out of prison and make them come work for them. I'd be pretty sure they're in the virus making business, cause without viruses they'd be out of a job. I always told my dad who ran a glass shop that he should give out free bricks to local hooligans to create more work opportunities
            Yeah you get "White Hat Hackers" whose sole purpose is to find find potential exploits in systems. Sometimes they work on theory "White Hat", sometimes they actually apply it with non malicious code and then notify the owners of the software/operating system "Grey Hat".

            It's kind of like the some parts of the SEO world
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  • Profile picture of the author Li Weng
    Sounds quite scary. Thanks for letting us know. I sure won't be opening up any videos on facebook from now on.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lloyd Buchinski
    It's funny, I'm not a very social person but a neighbor talked me
    into joining facebook. It turned out to be a pain in the neck as a
    couple of unpleasant people with not much taste in their profiles
    also wanted to be friends. I finally deleted my account which to
    their credit was easy to do.

    If I do join up again it will be under a fake name and I'll let a
    couple of people know about it, and then maybe go with that.
    But I'm not likely to do even that, I miss the whole point of it.
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  • Profile picture of the author bladerunner
    This virus is also being distributed via emails with seasonal greeting card subject.
    Same applies
    It tells you that someone has sent you a seasonal greeting card.
    Click link to view.
    Then a message about adobe flashplayer not being upto date.
    'Do not click update link'.
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  • Profile picture of the author TiffanyLambert
    I lucked out. One of my childhood friends sent me this via Facebook, or rather the system sent it to me from her, and I was too bogged down in work to get to it so I didn't get to open it. Then she emailed me back saying it was not her. Whew!

    No files found on my 'puter. Thanks, Bev!
    tiff
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  • Profile picture of the author Anthony Smith
    Guess i'm lucky i own a mac and can't get viruses. another reason i love my apple! wahoo!
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Fullman
      Originally Posted by Anthony Smith View Post

      Guess i'm lucky i own a mac and can't get viruses. another reason i love my apple! wahoo!
      Uh-oh.

      If you want to keep that attitude, please make sure you back up your critical files on a regular basis...

      The Mac has viruses - in fact, in a whitepaper on their support site, Apple techies recommended the use of Antivirus software.

      Astonishingly - and no doubt to perpetuate the myth to fanboys like you that Macs are immune to viruses , Apple's PR department removed the 'offending' document when a tech journo from the Washington Post wrote a piece on it.

      Another reason why I hate Apple.

      Read the story, and the update at the end. It's a priceless combination of spin & cover-their-backsides.

      Apple: Mac Users Should Get Antivirus Software - Security Fix


      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Jacqueline Watson
    Thanks for the heads up.

    I avoided a disaster!
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  • Profile picture of the author Eric Stanley
    Thanks for the heads up!
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  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    I got a similar greeting card from a friend which required you to download
    a software in order to view the card. I've never seen that before so I
    refused the download--perhaps it was virus.

    These people are getting more and more creative.

    -Ray
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  • Profile picture of the author carolver
    LOLLL...that was a good one YellowDot!
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  • Profile picture of the author GoGetta
    I am so glad I am not with Facebook, thanks for the tip! I was actually thinking of joining this weekend!

    GoGetta
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