Rumor of Kayne West’s Death Proliferate Scareware and Malware

According to Internet security researchers, cyber criminals are taking advantage of the rumor spreading the death news of singer Kayne West in a motor crash to divert web surfers, searching for more information about the accident, to websites that distribute 'scareware' or 'rogueware.'

The subject now occupies an important place amidst current news and has become the most searched phrase or keyword.

Describing the attack in detail, the researchers stated that a phony tale was spammed across social-networking sites reporting that West had died in a fatal accident. The accident caused injury to a second individual, arrest of a third for man slaughtering, and police's detention of a fourth. But some proficient Internet users thought to search for details regarding Kayne's demise prior to sharing it with others, and thus the enormous searches resulted in malware purveyors to pick up the particular search fad.

With the help of search engine optimization, criminals raised their malicious websites near the top search results with claims that they contain details of West's death. While anxious fans visited the sites, their PCs became contaminated with bogus AV programs.

According to reports, the fake news apparently originated from 4chan's/b/board, a message board and forum that is slightly mischievous, dirty and rebellious, along with other well-known online hoaxes. Anonymous hacktivist gang sprung from this board. Further, this board's members are believed to be infamous online-crooks who have exploited the names of celebrities earlier too.

Fake news of celebrity deaths isn't spreading across the Internet for the first time. Over recent years, online rumors proliferated regarding the sudden demise of Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Sean Connery, Will Farrel, Justin Timberlake, and more. If spammers appropriately manipulate the death rumors of celebrities, they could take on fresh form in malware proliferation.

However, the researchers remarked that Internet users must be certain that their anti-malware application properly scrutinized each of the web-pages active on their screens for harmful software. Further, it appeared certain that as Windows 7 would get launched, it too would be utilized for discarding scareware.

Related article: Ryanair Cautions Regarding Fake Recruitment E- mail

» SPAMfighter News - 11/3/2009