ESET Reports Malicious Programs Targeting Facebook Users

ESET the security company reports that people using Facebook the social-networking site recently encountered several PC worms, including Win32/Fbphotofake and Win32/Yimfoca.AA.

Says Security Researcher Marek Polesensky from ESET, the security company has even found Win32/Yimfoca.AA occupying one of the ranks on its list of 10 most prevalent malware programs inflicting several European countries like Slovakia, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Italy during the recent weeks. Ifosecurity-magazine.com published this during the 3rd week of February 2011.

Furthermore, according to the security researcher, Yimfoca's attack on Facebook takes place through the social site's chat session whereas Fbphotofake uses social engineering techniques for disseminating itself as well as more malware via spam mails on Facebook.

Additionally, Polesensky states that Yimfoca works like a backdoor which its creators regulate remotely, as also it disseminates via Yahoo Messenger, MSN and Skype the instant messaging programs. Besides, Yimfoca is capable of downloading as well as executing other malware like fake AV programs, altering security configurations alternatively disabling firewall programs on Windows, he adds.

Thus, owing to the above malware attacks, ESET urges everyone using Facebook to exercise great caution as well as avoid following dubious web-links or viewing unknown and doubtful attachments.

Meanwhile, in connection with the latest malevolent software assaults, Senior Fellow Researcher David Harley of ESET has tried to draw everyone's attention to con artists who are increasingly exploiting Facebook messaging to launch Nigerian e-mail scams. Realwire.com published this during the 4th week of February 2011.

States Harley, the Nigerian e-mail scam is usual Advance Fee Fraud, suggesting that users must always know who the sender is with certainty as also of the content of the messages on Facebook or IM.

Remarking about these problems, Director of Technical Education Randy Abrams at ESET North America observes that the problem to some extent relates to the Facebook tradition being opposed to security, which is therefore an extremely difficult hurdle for the social website's security professionals. Realwire.com reported this.

Hence, owing to the above threats, security experts are recommending Facebook users that they must at all times maintain vigilance as also utilize every essential security measure for combating the threats.

Related article: ESET Discusses malware Writers’ Trend

» SPAMfighter News - 3/8/2011