Facebook users hit by virus

DinoFlintstone · #1 12-09-2008, 07:36 AM

Facebook users hit by virus

Quote:

Facebook users hit by virus

By Dan Whitworth
Newsbeat technology reporter

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 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."

I created a thread about this a while ago, but it was about Bebo. This thread is more specific.

pinkprincess · #2 12-09-2008, 07:55 AM

:( this happened to me but on bebo :( xx

DinoFlintstone · #3 12-09-2008, 08:55 AM

Me too... The very first video, I thought '****, I've been caught in the act, and now everyone is going to know,' but I saw that their was something suspisious about it, so I did a check on it, and sure enough, it was dodgey.

Mason · #4 12-09-2008, 09:19 AM

Oh that kind of virus. I've encountered that on sites other than facebook. Luckily, I don't fall for these things.

DinoFlintstone · #5 12-09-2008, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mason

Oh that kind of virus. I've encountered that on sites other than facebook. Luckily, I don't fall for these things.

That's what most people say before they get caught. It's too easy to get caught by a virus. No one is immune. Some might fix it better than others, but again, no one is immune.

MissyGris · #6 12-09-2008, 09:32 AM

My friend has this right now. She can't even get on the internet. Ive downloaded malwarebytes and avast and other various things and put them on my flashdrive and installed them on her computer. No luck. Anyone out there have a solution?

EDIT: its called TrojanDownloader or something like that

SuiGeneris · #7 12-09-2008, 09:43 AM

Missygris: You're best bet is to just whipe the hard drive. I had TrojanDownloader years ago when I was a hormonal teenager and thought all porn was safe. All in all, I ended up having to whipe my entire hard drive and start from fresh.

MissyGris · #8 12-09-2008, 09:47 AM

I told her that would be the last resort, but since I havent found anything that can get rid of it I guess its time to do that. Thanks for the info.

SuiGeneris · #9 12-09-2008, 09:49 AM

Yeah the problem with Trojan Downloader is it duplicates itself and moves from place to place. So even though you run a virus-scan and delete it there's a copy made in an alternate directory. It's a crafy little virus. Hope you figure it out one way or the other.

English-Emo-Boy · #10 12-09-2008, 11:38 AM

When you get an 18 year old hot blonde with perfect breasts asking to be your mate for no strings sex you kind of get a little suspiciuos.

I just ignore them.

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