Cyberthieves Use Twitter to Spread Rogueware Scam
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CREDIT: www.pandasecurity.com |
Cybertheieves are using Twitter to spread a rogueware scam a con that tricks users into believing they have a computer virus and tries to convince them to purchase fake anti-virus software.
The messages come from several different Twitter accounts , and read "a very good antivirus,"followed by a shortened link beginning with http://goo.gl, reported the security vendor PandaLabs.
Shortened URLs are often used by attackers to hide malware, and this rogueware campaign is no exception. Clicking on the link takes users to a fake warning screen titled "Firefox security alert." The page is engineered to make users believe they have several viruses. When users select the "Start Protection" button to remove what they think are serious problems, their computer is infected with malware.
After they are prompted to restart their systems, victims of this scam are lured into purchasing fake ThinkPoint anti-virus software. Security experts always warn users to be skeptical of shortened links, and never to enter personal information if a website looks suspicious.
PandaLabs said it expects to see similar social media-based rogueware scams throughout 2011.
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