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13th February 2010 FaceBook continues to be a potential source of computer infections
Facebook, MySpace, Bebo and other social networking sites continue to be a potential minefield for users. As well as the risk of infection by the Koobface Worm you may also invite into your machine a fake antivirus program. The Koobface worm may result in identity theft and your bank/credit card details being revealed to criminals via a backdoor. Recently, I have removed a lot of fake antivirus programs from people’s computers. In most cases they have been using a social networking site. Read my pages about the Koobface Worm and Fake antiviruses.
For more news from around the world look at the links below;
5th and 6th October 2009
It has been reported in the news that social networking websites such as Face Book, MySpace and Twitter are increasingly being targeted by hackers and virus writers. Beware of what links you click on these sites. For more info look at the following 2 links:
1st October 2009
Fake antivirus programs that may pop up on your computer are reported to be multiplying at such a rate that they may overwhelm the legitimate antivirus programs to keep up with their signatures. See the news link here
For more info about this problem I have a fuller web page
26th June 2009
Since Michael Jackson’s death spammers, virus writers and hackers have been exploitinging people’s interest. E-mails offering “secret” information about the singer’s death or offering videos or Youtube links has tricked people into becoming infected. Its easy to avoid. Do not click on any links or attachments in e-mails offering anything to do with Michael Jackson’s death even if the e-mail seems to come from someone you know ... for more info follow this link
8th June 2009
The Koobface virus that affects social networking sites such as Facebook continues to cause lots of problems. The virus has entered its 28th varient and can completely take over your system ... read and listen more at Link 14
2nd June 2009
And now Twitter users are the latest target. Scareware fake virus programs andso-called videos that leave Trojans and virus infects have started targetting the increasingly popular Twitter program ... see Link 13
23rd May 2009
Another article that confirms 12 million people with infected computers in the UK. That’s about 20% of the population or about 45% of households ... see link 12
21 st May 2009
It is reported that the Conficker Worm is stil infecting 50,000 PCs a day ... see link 11
13th May 2009
The Daily Telegraph reports that in the last 6 months 12 million people have had their computers infected ... see link 10
27th April 2009
It now appears that the Conficker worm is causing another worm called Waledac to be installed and this begins to setup a botnet of infected computers that will be used to send out spam E-mails
More info see: Link 9
2nd April 2009 update
So far the expect chaos from the Conficker Worm has not materialised. There is some evidence that the worm did start “calling home” for more instructions but it is still biding its time. The authors of the worm may be biding their time until media interest declines and people let their guard down. Don’t get caught out. Keep your security up-to-date.
More info: Link 5 Link 6 Link 7 Link 8
29th March 2009 update
1st April 2009 Conficker Worm
Antivirus experts have been warning that the latest version of this worm, Conficker C, is due to cause internet havoc on 1st April. It is thought that 10 to 15 million computers around the world are already infected including the House of Commons and the House of Lords in London (see article).
At the moment however, the experts do not know what will happen. Some say that the infected machines will start to “call home” using up to 5000 domain names it has generated. It might create an enormous botnet that then starts to send spam E-mails. Some say that its all a hoax and that there is nothing to worry about!
What can you do?
1. Make sure that your Windows patches are completely up to date.
2. Make sure that your antivirus security program is completely up to date.
3. Scan your computer for viruses regularly, both before and after 1st April.
To find out more click the links below:
Link 1 Link 2 Link3 Link 4
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