Warning to Facebook users

17 years ago

I just got this from our internet provider and thought I should pass it on. And, yes, I did check it with Snopes

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Surfer Beware - Koobface Worm Targets Facebook User

If you're on Facebook, be aware that a fast-spreading worm called Koobface is targeting users and trying to steal personal information such as credit card details. The Koobface worm sends a message to the Facebook user, supposedly from a friend, that says things like "you look funny in this new video" or "is it u there?" After clicking on the video link, the user is asked to download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player. Only after the user clicks on the fraudulent Flash update is the Koobface worm installed.

This malware can then quickly seize credit card details in two ways - either by waiting for the user to buy something online and remembering the details, or by searching the computer for cookies from past online purchases.

With dozens of Koobface variants known to exist, security leader McAfee warns that the situation may get worse before it gets better. Should your PC be infected with the Koobface worm, Facebook suggests resetting your password and running updated antivirus software to purge the worm from your system. To learn more about security tips for Facebook users, go to http://www.facebook.com/security.

It's important to note that Koobface attacked MySpace users before moving to Facebook, and has also jumped to the social networking site Bebo. All users of such sites would be well advised to stay alert for suspicious messages.

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Comments (8)

User
17 years ago
This was on the news a few weeks ago. I don't click on any links on Facebook anymore.
petaloid
17 years ago
It is good to warn people about this.

I have a Mac, so I think I'll be okay, but will tell hubby (aka Mr. PC).
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Huge business this data-mining. The funny thing is I read about it in a novel, I think either Dean Koontz or David Baldacci, most likely the latter but I can't be for sure. These people, if they wish, can destroy not only your credit, but your life itself....implenting you into many illegal enterprises.....kiddo porn, etc. that you have had nothing to do with, but when they can access your computer info they can inject whatever they want to implicate you. Very scary stuff and enough to make you want to escape to a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Of course at that point they may make you into the new 'unibomber' and screw up that persona. Okay, most of this is total paranoia.....the likelihood it could happen to you, as a normal citizen is slight....but it could happen. This is a crazy age we live in. I really think the old days were better and I suppose every generation says that....but the days of yore were simpler and I really sometimes wish we never had computers, cell phones, etc. We need more people-to-people contact. Enough said. Duane
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I don't think it's sick at all, very funny. I hadn't seen any jokes about his passing, too bad, laughing at him instead of fearing him is a nice change. Sorry, there I go again upsetting the forum PC police.
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Patti it would not accept my at first.I tried ever way you could think of.I started getting a headache working with it.I decided to walked away and came back. It never accepted it.When I first signed up and made my password up it went thur.But when I was confirming it after I got my email and I had to click on that to finish signing up is when it would not accept my.I came back to that part and clicked on other things there,I was able to view ever thing. Than the next day I clicked on facebook and ever thing worked fine.I never closed out.I have not tried closing facebook and signing in to see if it will accept it.I am affaid I can not get back in.See if you can click on other things on facebook to see if it will work.Let me know if it worked.I even try writing them and letting them know what was going on but never heard from them.I hope you can understand what I am trying to tell you.Did you ever get a email confirming you were in so you could click on the email part and finish it?Also you can try doing the password in little letters because that is what my sister suggested.I do not remember if the password had to so many letters.Anyway I will ask my sister what to do when it want accept the pasword.Try to email them and tell them you are having trouble.
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I, of course, had heard a lot of references to Facebook. They all pertained to how great it was to reconnect with friends and family. I didn't know there were "hidden" mysteries that came with it. So I joined up, and right away found some relatives that would be good to hear from. I began to realize I was also gaining "friends" I never heard of. I have no idea who most of those friends are. As I said before, I think Facebook should come with a tutorial. A lot of the terms are not self-explanatory. I googled and learned a few tid-bits here and there. One was the use of the Hide button, but that only works on the Home page, not the page of a Friend. So there is no way to my knowledge to remove something from another's page. Seems like there should be, it is MY Facebook. Anyway, I have gone in and removed every name except my nieces and nephews. I left X, because I don't have the heart to delete him. I know that if he did do the quiz, and doesn't want to admit it after seeing the result, that he had no idea what would have come of taking the quiz. And that the "F" word would be blasted on that page in BIG red letters on a black background. Facebook should be ashamed. I didn't join Facebook looking for games to play or quizzes to take. My purpose was to locate and reconnect with family. For that I think Facebook will be fine. It is much better than emailing. If anything similar happens again, I will give it up completely. Thanks for helping me through this. Sue
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User
17 years ago
Mac's get viruses too! Whoever said they don't lied. The reason they get fewer is because there are few Mac users but those #'s are growing. So people who make the viruses are now going after Mac users too.
User
17 years ago
Just to show my point....

=o)

Here is a link that might be useful: Mac's and viruses
petaloid
17 years ago
Debby, thank you. I know there is always some risk, even with a Mac. ;-)

The 2005 article in your link refers to a, "... report from anti-virus software vendor Symantec Corp."

"... The report was clear to say that while the number of vulnerabilities in Mac OS X is expected to increase, they will likely be outnumbered by vulnerabilities in other operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, for some time to come."

"... Between July 1 and December 31, 2004, Symantec documented 13 vulnerabilities affecting Microsoft IE, nine considered high severity. Six vulnerabilities were reported in Opera and none in Apple's Safari browser."

"... The report called the zero number of confirmed Safari vulnerabilities 'somewhat surprising given the increasing popularity of Mac OS X,' but suggested that as the browser grows in usage, so will the attacks."

"... Mr. Cole said the classic and basic rules still apply to fend off virus and hacker attacks. 'Keep your operating system up to date, your browser to date and your virus definitions up to date,' he said. 'If you do that, your chances of having problems are minimal.'"

I am careful about what I click on, but since most viruses are written to target PCs, I believe my husband's computer is much more liable to have problems with them. We are pretty good about backing up our files on the external hard drive.

Come to think of it, I should do that today!
sue36
17 years ago
I got infected with this (well, not ME, my laptop) in early December. Total PITA, and cost me over $100 to get it removed (unless you are a computer expert and know how to wade through registries, etc., you won't be able to do it). I'm still having issues. I now ignore all Faceboook emails and just log into Facebook itself.
naughtykitty
17 years ago
Thanks for the info. I just joined Facebook this week. I just cleaned out my cookies and cache. Crossing my fingers.....
trishaw
17 years ago
I am with Sue36, I ignore the emails and just log onto Facebook. I never open links at all anymore. Been there done that, still wearing the dang t-shirt! I thank God everyday that my son is a computer geek.

Trish

Warning to Facebook users

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