Facebook ‘Unnamed’ Software Used for FAKEAV Scams

According to a warning released by security specialists, scareware distributors are exploiting rumors surrounding unnamed applications from Facebook and put its users in a security danger.

It has been learnt about the scareware campaign that a Google search for "Facebook unnamed app" produces a number of results. These results have been poisoned by hackers to execute their scam.

If any Web surfer comes across a poisoned or malicious website, he may find his computer infected by a fake antivirus program. This program is typically designed to cheat the user off his hard-earned money. A fake antivirus program is referred to as 'scareware' or 'rogueware' as well.

Rik Ferguson, Senior Security Advisor at Trend Micro, has written in his blog posting that it is being speculated if scareware scammers themselves have created the Facebook rumors or simply fastened to them to reap personal gains, as reported by TheRegister on January 27, 2010.

Alongside the security researchers at Trend Micro, ESET and Sophos researchers also spotted the malicious software on Facebook's web-pages. ESET states that the malware is a variant of Win32/Kryptik.BXJ, while according to Sophos it is Mal/FakeVirPk-A.

Meanwhile, several users of Facebook who complained of the problem stated that while they had the application added to their settings, fraudulent e-mails had come to them, which talked about a buddy commenting on their photograph or a certain post, as reported by CNN on January 27, 2010.

Ever since the malevolent anomaly, a series of events have occurred. Security specialists remaking about them cautioned users to maintain vigilance while on the Web. They suggested users to always brush the mouse on a hyperlink as a way to check for its genuineness. In case the URL's visibility is unclear, then it could mean the link is a redirect.

Additionally, users are advised to deploy up-to-date security software.

Finally, security researchers stated that Facebook's recent security flutter resembled the style, which was used in a previous scare-story during September 2009. In that, software known as Fan Check was similarly utilized as bait for bogus 'antivirus' traps when any person attempted to search for additional details about the fake tale.

Related article: Facebook Users Should be Careful of a Computer Virus

» SPAMfighter News - 2/5/2010