Global 'cyber spy' network In China identified

cyber spy network based about entirely in China has hacked into computer networks around the world, stealing classified information from governments and private organizations in more than 99 countries, Canadian researchers has reported.

The system, dubbed "GhostNet" by the researchers, infiltrated networks in dozens of embassies, foreign ministries, government departments and offices in several cities belonging to the Dalai Lama's Tibetan government-in-exile, the Canadian team said.

The network was uncovered after the Munk Centre for International Studies was initially approached by the Dalai Lama's office to investigate allegations of Chinese espionage.
In over 9 months of study, they then found a far larger spy network, targeting more than 1,285 infected computers in 102 countries.

Easy to hide
One of the characteristics of cyber-attacks of the sort we document here is the ease by which attribution can be obscured," Deiibert said.

"Regardless of who or what is ultimately in control of GhostNet, it is the capabilities of misuse, and the strategic intelligence that can be harvested from it, which matters most."
He said the study highlighted the growing capabilities of cyber attacks and the ease with which the internet can be used to gather high value and sensitive information

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New Malware & Viruses

According to ESET, a computer security firm, the most recent virus and other malware attacks are sophisticated and insidious as they rely on socially engineered tactics that lure probable victims into downloading malicious code on their systems. The statement came as a warning that ESET raised during a briefing to the press in Makati City (Philippines).

The security company states that amidst all Internet threats, fake anti-malware programs pose the greatest danger. According to it, a pop-up box would usually emerge saying that there is a spyware or malware on the user's system; therefore, the user needs to click on link to get free anti-spyware or anti-malware software.

The spyware or malware, while taking gain of the genuine software, continues to stay on the user's system despite the free protection solution.
Other variations of similarly socially engineered malicious software also exist like false codecs that generate pop-up boxes informing possible sufferers that there is need to download some specific software to run and watch video files. Apart from spreading via the Internet, spyware, viruses and other malicious programs are transmitted by modern methods of "sneakernet" like being carried on USB (universal bus) storage devices such as multimedia cards and flash disks rather than floppy disks.

Another threat spreading like this is the Downadup or Conficker computer worm that has come up recently. This virus creeps into systems and makes its own copies on other computers. This implies that if any single computer is infected within a network of computers, the infection will disseminate across the whole network.

For instance, if one school computer is infected with the Conficker virus and it does not have the appropriate antivirus, then the malware could spread across the entire network of the school, potentially corrupting other PCs.

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Software labs warn of ATM virus that steals money from bank accounts

Russia's leading computer security labs have warned of a new computer virus which infects ATM to steal money from bank accounts of their users.

Two leading anti-virus software producers 'Doctor Web' and 'Kaspersky Lab' claimed to have discovered a new computer virus, in the networks of several bank ATMs.

"This is a malicious programme intended to infect and survive in ATMs. It is possible that new software will appear, aimed at illegitimately using banking information and removing funds," an official of the Kaspersky Lab was quoted as saying by news agency.

He said the virus is a Trojan which is able to infect the popular American Diebold brand of ATMs, used in Russia and Ukraine. Judging by the programming code used, there is a high probability that the programmer comes from one of the former Soviet republics, he added.

The computer security professionals say the number of infected ATMs is minimal but individual bank cardholders will not be able to detect whether an ATM is infected or not.

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Conficker Virus How It Works

Conficker, also known as Kido, is a computer worm that started in October 2008 and targets the Windows operating system.

How it works

The Conficker worm spreads itself primarily through a buffer overflow weakness in the Server Service 0n Windows computers. The worm uses a specially crafted RPC request to execute code 0n the target computer.

When runs on a computer, Conficker disables a number of system services such as Windows Automatic Update, Windows Security Center.

It receives further instructions by connecting to a server. The instructions it receives may include to propagate, gather personal information and to download and install extra malware onto the victim's computer. The worm also attaches itself to certain Windows processes such as svchost.exe, explorer.exe and services.exe.

The worm seems to implement some of the ideas presented by Fucs, Paes de Barros e Pereira at the Blackhat Briefings Europe 2007, specifically: digitally signed additional payload, use of PRNG for communication and P2P communication.


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“Botnet” spyware creator gets four-year prison sentence

John Schiefer, the creator of the malicious "botnet" computer program, was sentenced by a federal court on Wednesday, for four years for infecting as many as 250,001 computers. Schiefer was computer security consultant from Los Angeles and employee of Santa Monica, California based search engine startup Mahalo.

28-years-old Schiefer was found guilty of using botnet spyware programs to infect and access thousands of computers to steal the identities of the owners of the computers. Schiefer admitted using "botnets" to turn the computers into "zombies" to thieve the identities of victims nationwide by illegally picking information from their PCs and wiretapping their communications.

Commenting on Schaefer’s conduct, the U. S. District Judge A. Howard Matz said, "This kind of conduct is actually far more devastating than assaulting a prison officer." Schiefer was arrested in 2007 under a large U. S. FBI enforcement action against botnet makers, called Operation Bot Roast 2. Schiefer was previously found guilty to hacking, fraud and wiretapping charges. Schiefer created his botnet army while he was a consultant at 3.5G Communications, a small Los Angeles telecommunications company.

The Judge said that Schiefer was employed "to protect people from this kind of conduct, yet he engaged in this kind of conduct."

According to the U. S. Attorney's Office, Schiefer applied the malware, which he called a "spybot," to wiretap electronic communications being sent online from the zombie computers to PayPal and other Web sites. Thus, Judge Matz also ordered Schiefer to pay restitution of $19,000 to PayPal and other companies Judge Matz said, "There's a pathology that society has to deal with. There are people who want to display their prowess in Internet technology -- but they screw up big time."

Mahalo top executives stated that they didn't know about Schiefer's criminal activities when they hired him. In a blog posting, Mahalo founder Jason Calacanis said that still he stands by his employee. Calacanis said, "I consider myself a fairly decent judge of character, and after spending months with John, I'm convinced he was an angry stupid kid when he launched his botnet attack (which did .0000000001% of the damage it could have). Now he's an adult who just wants to make a decent living, spend time with his significant other and breathe the clean air off the Pacific Ocean by our offices in Santa Monica. When he comes out, I hope to be able to offer him a job and that we can work together again."

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Online Internet Infections: 4 Simple Tips

59% of Online Businesses have been sufferers of hackers, every time you access the Internet it is almost certain that some form of intrusive software is attempting to infiltrate your computer, even your existing Operating System can cause major problems.

The following article will provide four tips which whilst is not definitive, can dramatically reduce the risk of becoming subject to such problems.

The first advice is to install virus removal Software. A virus can completely weaken your computer and potentially cause the entire loss of all information. This can be prevented by installing Anti-Virus Software which will scan your machine to detect any pre-existing viruses and also prevent any new viruses from attacking your computer. However it is crucial that the Software which you adopt is regularly kept up to date.

Viruses can also be avoided by being extra vigilant with regards to what you download and what e-mail attachments you view. It is best to assume that anything could be infected and only access it if you are certain of its authenticity.

The second tip is to install Anti-Spyware Software. Spyware is software that is placed on your computer to secretly gather information about the user. This information could be browsing patterns which is passed on to advertisers or can even log each key pressed by the user in order to obtain details such as passwords and bank details etcetera. It can slow your computer down, alter your home page and produce numerous unwanted links to websites.
This software must too be kept up to date and can be obtained free through various different websites.
The third tip is to install Firewall Software. A Firewall is a piece of Software designed to shield your computer from unauthorised access and unwanted Internet activity. This is particularly important in the business environment. Firewall should be set to work on both incoming activity and outgoing so that you can control both what leaves and enters your computer.

The final tip is with regard to the Operating System issue as mentioned in the introduction. Some Operating Systems develop problems with time which were not anticipated at the point of installation. These problems can be remedied via an update known as a patch. These can be obtained through the supplier’s website. Those users which have Windows XP can activate an internal automatic update facility which is a built in tool to keep Windows up to date.
The Software mentioned above is vital in trying to beat Internet crime as well as protecting your computer against software which can severely damage its operation.

Top 10 worst computer viruses

Malicious software’s and computer viruses are on the raise, say security experts, as hackers, spammers and identity thieves seek new ways to steal information that can be used to empty bank accounts or spread electronic mayhem. Here, we present a look back at the 10 worst computer viruses of ever made(virus removal)

The Morris worm

In 1998 Robert Morris, a university student, unleashed a worm which affected 10 per cent of all the computers connected to the internet (at the time the net was estimated to consist of 60,001 computers), slowing them down to a halt. Morris is now an associate professor at MIT.

The Concept virus
The Concept virus, accidentally shipped on a CD-R0M supplied by Microsoft in 1995, was the first virus to infect Microsoft Word documents. Within days it became the most widespread virus the world had ever seen, taking advantage of the fact that computer users shared documents via email.

CIH
The Chernobyl virus (also known as CIH) triggers on April 27 each year, the anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. It overwrites a chip inside PCs effectively paralysing the entire computer. Its author, Chen Ing Hau, was caught by the authorities in Taiwan.

Anna Kournikova worm
The Anna Kournikoova worm posed as a photo of the tennis player, but was in fact a virus written by Jan de Wit, an obsessed admirer from the Netherlands. He ended up receiving a community service sentence.

I LOVEYOU
The Love Bug flooded internet users with ILOVEYOU messages in May 2000, forwarding itself to everybody in the user's address book. It was designed to steal internet access passwords for its Filipino creator.

Melissa virus
The Melissa virus, written by David L Smith in homage to a Florida stripper, was the first successful email-aware virus and inserted a quote from The Simpsons in to Word documents. Smith was later sentenced to jail for causing over $80 million worth of damage.

The Blaster Worm
The Blaster worm launched a denial of service attack against Microsoft's website in 2003, and infected millions of computers around the world by exploiting a security hole in Microsoft's software. Its author has never been found.

Netsky and Sasser
Sven Jaschan, a German teenager, was found guilty of writing the Netsky and Sasser worms. Jaschan was found to be responsible for 70 per cent of all the malware seen spreading over the internet at the time, but escaped prison and was eventually hired by a security company as an "ethical hacker".

OSX/RSPlug Trojan
In November 07, the first example of financially-motivated malware for Apple Macs was discovered in the wild. The launch of the OSX/RSPlug Trojan increased fears that Apple's platform may be targeted more by hackers in the future.

Storm worm
The Storm worm, originally posing as breaking news of bad weather hitting Europe, infected computers around the world in 07. Millions of infected PCs were taken over by hackers and used to spread spam and steal identities.

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How Much You Know About Spywares

So where do you get your spyware removal and prevention software? Adware spyware removal tools are also available for free, usually on Web sites of security software companies. Some other popular Spyware Scanning and Removal Software includes Lava Soft’s Ad-Aware, it's a great FREE software program to help in identification and removal of Spyware software 0n your computer.

When you decide to use a Spyware Removal program, you will be facing a lot of conclusion making. The majority of companies that produce spyware tend to be unethical in that they will use any means necessary to get you to install their spyware and try to make sure you don't remove it. And if you thinking of removing spyware without the help of professional software company, and for free, you should take care to download and install programs that cancel out the threat of spyware from your computer for a long time.

The presence of a toolbar that you did not install on your system, may well be another tell tale sign of spyware presence. If you take a few precautions and install software on your system you should be well protected in the fight against spyware. And if you happen to install software that has no reviews or anything about it on the internet there is a chance that it might be one of those software with spyware in it.

There are many programs that you can download to block adware and spyware from infecting your computer. Even though some adware is harmless and even some webmasters programs that track there movements for marketing purposes, don't you think it is your right to decide who knows your business and not have it stolen from you by some malicious adware spyware program.

Some of the most popular spyware removers include Lavasoft's Ad-Aware SE and Spybot - Search and Destroy. But one of the most popular free spyware programs that you can download is Lavasoft's AdAware. No matter whether you choose, a spyware remover that is free or one that costs money, the important thing is that you get rid of your spyware as soon as possible before the problem gets out of control.

For most users, it is suggested to choose Spyware blocker and remover programs instead of Anti-Spyware programs capable of just one task. The trouble is Spyware manufactures furtively attach these parasites within other programs you download.

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Complete Online Security from Spyware and Adware

Complete Online Security from Spyware and Adware

It has been reported that a vast majority of people whose computers are connected to the internet but without any spyware removal or adware removal tools are infected with some kind of virus, Trojan, spyware or adware programs without their knowledge. These malicious programs install themselves discreetly using backdoor entry points and try to steal information from

computers for illegal activities such as sending spam mails. Certain websites block access to personal computers.that happens, such computers have been compromised. When servers come across any suspicious activity, they will block access to such suspicious IPs to prevent any further damage. Getting blocked from accessing a website is not as serious as losing our personal data to third parties who may misuse them.

The malicious software programs and spyware programs that sneak into computers can cause a variety of damage. Some of them just sit there and watch computer users' activities and communicate to the person who installed the malicious software;others will take screen shots of our computer activity and send them regularly to some third party. There are other programs that aim at all the login details and other sensitive information such as our credit card details and our bank account details. The data in our computer can be misused in a variety of ways and the damage caused to us can be of various degrees depending on the nature of the malicious program that is housed in our computer without our knowledge.

Tips to identify fake anti-virus software scams

This topic is about a sting that's growing very fast and that you really need to be alert of: how fake virus removal software and spyware removal software is being used by scammers and identity thieves in many cunning ways.

Scammers, identity thieves and hackers have grown more complicated. Today, some cyber-criminals are selling -- or giving away -- software that supposedly fights viruses, spyware and malware.

In fact, their "rogue software" often doesn't work, or actually infects your computer with the dodgy programs it is supposed to protect against!

In this issue, we tell you how to differentiate between useless -- or even malicious -- security software and the real deal. And we'll explain why you need to be cautious about closing or deleting these alerts, even when you know they're fake.

Fake Virus Scam Tactics
Fake virus alerts are usually generated by a Trojan -- a program that takes control of your computer -- after you open an email attachment, click on a pop-up advertisement or visit a particular website. (Adult sites are special favorites.)

If you run programs that provide file-sharing information -- including some instant messenger (IM) applications -- your computer might be remotely accessed by scammers, hackers and identity thieves.

Sometimes, the Trojan creates "false positive" readings, making you think viruses and spyware have infected your computer, even though nothing has. In other cases, scam software actually implants malicious code into your computer, especially if you request a "free virus scan."
In other words, some peddlers of fake anti-virus software actually design the viruses, spyware and malware that their software is supposed to detect!

What to Look For Rogue Spyware
• Rogue anti-virus/spyware programs often generate more "alerts" than the software made by reputable companies.
• You may be bombarded with pop-ups, even when you're not online.
• High-pressure sales copy will try to convince you to buy RIGHT NOW!
• If you've been infected, your computer may dramatically slow down.
• Other signs of infection include: new desktop icons; new wallpaper, or having your default homepage redirected to another site.

Fake Anti Virus Prevention Tips
1. Keep your computer updated with the latest anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and be sure to use a good firewall.
2. Never open an email attachment unless you are POSITIVE about the source.
3. Do NOT click on any pop-up that advertises anti-virus or anti-spyware software, especially a program promising to provide every feature known to mankind. (Also remember: the fakes often mimic well-known brands such as Grisoft AVG, Norton and McAfee.)
4. If a virus alert appears on your screen, do NOT touch it. Don't use your mouse to get rid of or scan for viruses, and DON'T use your mouse to close the window. Instead, hit control + alt + delete to view a list of programs currently running. Delete the "rogue" from the list of running programs, and call your computer maker's phone or online tech support service to learn if you can safely use your computer.
5. Do not download freeware or shareware unless you know it's from a reputable source.
6. Avoid questionable websites. Some sites may automatically download malicious software onto your computer.
7. Reset your current security settings to a higher level.
8. Although fake software may closely resemble the real thing, it's rarely an exact match. Look for suspicious discrepancies.

If your computer is infected by rogue software, stop work and don't keep using the computer. This may further damage your machine and provide identity thieves with more information about you.

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How To Protect Your Computer From Online Attacks

Keeping your computer secure from nastier on the web is often overlooked, but taking a few simple steps can minimize the risks from viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware and all other forms of infections.

Protection is the best way to protect a computer from being attacked by malicious software, also known as malware. Users can avoid malware infecting their computers by using a firewall. But if a PC has already been infected by malware, the cause of the infection could be eliminated by using anti-virus or spyware removal software. So what is a "firewall" exactly? And what do we mean by virus removal software.

What is Firewall

A firewall will try and prevent infection in the first place, and acts as a first line of defense against the web's more unpleasant elements. It monitors inbound and outbound web traffic on a computer, searching and blocking behavior consistent with malware. Whichever operating system you use, check that your firewall is already switched on. This happens as standard with Windows Vista and later versions of Windows XP but not with Mac OS X.

Check if your machine's firewall is on by opening the control panel and selecting firewall settings. Then look at the check box to see if Microsoft's firewall is switched on or off. That said, commercial alternatives can provide a more comprehensive level of protection. There are many tried and tested third-party firewalls available. Some less-known but perfectly adequate pieces of software, are available as a free download.

Many of the free packages also have grown-up fully featured paid-for alternatives. If you decide to plump for a third party firewall, you may need to switch the Microsoft firewall off. Often MS firewall will conflict with third party firewalls.

What is ANTI-VIRUS

While a firewall is the first line of defence, it should also be used in conjunction with good anti-virus and anti-spyware software.

These pieces of software should hunt down and eliminate malicious software lurking on a machine. But make sure only one piece of anti-virus software is installed at a time.
If you purchase or download new anti-virus software, uninstall any previous protective software that may be running on your machine.

Like the firewall, running multiple anti-virus suites can cause software conflicts and create major computer performance issues.

There are also paid-for and free versions of anti-virus and anti-spyware software available.
Many of the free options have fewer and more basic features than the full price alternatives.
In addition, it is important to make sure that anti-virus software and the operating system is updated regularly.

New threats are being released onto the web all the time, so anti-virus and operating system updates are required to combat these threats.

For less experienced users, many of these updates can be performed automatically, by instructing both the operating system and anti-virus to auto-update.

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How To Catch A Computer Virus

There are immense amounts of viruses today all over the Internet and computer world. Computer security experts are working around the clock in order to try and stop these viruses. Virus writers on the other hand are working around the clock in order to find vulnerabilities and work their way around computer security software. The most alarming facet with regard to computer viruses is that they spread. Some spyware can really cause extreme harm to your life and your computer, while others may be more innocent and a bit easier to get rid of. It all depends 0n various things and it is extremely important to be aware of the ways that a virus can be caught. There are many ways that you can catch a virus, although some are more popular methods than others.

The most popular way of detecting a virus is from the Internet. Viruses can be anywhere on the Internet and you usually only find out where they are when it is too late. It is very common for a virus to be attached to a file on the Internet. These files are usually files that people download. They are placed there in very clever ways and when a person clicks on and downloads the particular file, your system will then become infected with a virus. It is vital for everyone to admit the factor that each time that you download and install a file; you are actually placing yourself at risk of catching a virus.

Another common way that a virus is caught in today's day and age is through Email. Viruses are placed in Emails in very clever ways and the Email receipt has completely no idea that anything is wrong until the damages have been done. Viruses usually travel through Email attachments. This is why computer security experts are continuously warning the public to be careful when they open and click on and download Email attachments. It is important to know that you need to actually open the attachment before the virus is able to infect your system. If an Email appears suspicious in any way, then it is in your best interest to not even consider opening the Email message 0r downloading the attachment.

Another popular way of catching a virus is from a computer network. The server and networks of computers are constantly sharing information. All it takes is one file for every single computer on the network to become infected by a virus. If a particular file is infected with a virus and this file is used by several other network users, they will all become infected with this particular type of virus. The virus may spread extremely fast and before you even know it, the entire network becomes infected with the virus.

It is very important to devote in good virus removal software. It is also very important to make sure that you update this software on a regular basis in order to keep yourself safe. You should also be scanning your computer on a regular basis; you can do so with antivirus software. There are always reports of new viruses so it may be in your best interest to stay abreast of the latest threats through security news sources. You also need to back up your files on a regular basis, no matter how time consuming it is, because it may be your last defense when you are faced with a serious virus infection.

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Spyware Master Sentenced

A California computer security consultant was sentenced Wednesday to 4 years in federal prison for using spyware (spyware removal) that turned thousand of computers into "zombies" so he could steal their owners' identities.

John Schiefer, 26, admitted using "botnets" -- armies of infected computers -- to steal the identities of victims nationwide by extracting information from their personal computers and wiretapping their communications.

"This kind of conduct is actually far more devastating than assaulting a prison officer," said U.S. District Judge A. Howard Matze, referring to the case heard just prior to Schiefer's.

Matz said Schiefer had been employed "to protect people from this kind of conduct, yet he engaged in this kind of conduct."

Schiefer and several unindicted associates developed and distributed a malicious computer code to vulnerable computers, then used to code to assemble armies of up to 250,000 infected computers, which they used to engage in a variety of identity theft schemes, prosecutors said.

In pleading guilty last April to computer fraud, Schiefeer acknowledged installing malicious computer code, or "malware," that acted as a wiretap on compromised computers.

The victims -- unaware their computers had been turned into "zombies" -- continued to use them to engage in commercial activities.

Schiefer used the malware, which he called a "spybot," to intercept electronic communications being sent online from the zombie computers to PayPal and other Web sites, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"There's a pathology that society has to deal with," Matz said. "There are people who want to display their prowess in Internet technology -- but they screw up big time."

Schiefer also admitted signing up as a consultant with a Dutch Internet advertising company in order to defraud it with his botnets.

He promised to install the company's programs on computers only when the owners gave consent. Instead, Schiefer and two co-schemers installed that program on about 150,000 computers that were infected with their malware, prosecutors said.

Schiefer advised his associates to moderate the number of installations so it appeared they were legitimate and not the result of a malicious computer program that was propagating itself. The company eventually paid Schiefer more than $19,001.

Schiefer was a member of the "botnet underground" and the case was the first prosecution of its kind in the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Along with the prison sentence, Matz ordered Schiefer to pay restitution of $19,000 to PayPal and other companies.

spyware and adware - what it is, and how to avoid it

The first thing you need to know about protecting yourself from these things is to totally understand what they do. 0nce you know what spyware and adware is, you'll be able to take measures against it infecting your machine.

What Is Spyware?
According to Microsoft, "spyware" is a malicious type of program with the aim of collecting personal information or changing the configuration of your computer. Spyware unethical, in that it is 0ften downloaded without your permission. Usually, you won't know it's even there when it enters your system, and you'll need to have spyware removal software installed in order to remove it.

What Is Adware?
The difference between spyware and adware is not large, and they are essentially the same kind of thing. With spyware, it is possible that your personal information could be given to another source. In other words, is "spying" on you, hence the name spyware. With adware, however, the software is designed primarily to display advertisements on the user's PC.
Is It All Bad?

It is unfortunate, but several people tend to believe that all types of this software are harmful and definitely should be avoided. That's not always the case. Of course, in most cases spyware adware are harmful and are not the kind of thing you want on your PC, but there are exceptions where you may actually want software like this on your PC.

Remember, to make it spyware it has to be downloaded to your computer without your consent. Spyware can sometimes be downloaded through things as "driveby" downloads or through other exploits, so that the user never even knows it is on their machine. Any program that is downloaded with the users permission is technically not spyware.

Why would you want to have spyware that tracks your personal information and surfing habits running on your computer? And more importantly, why would you want those advertisements? Well, there may be some exceptional cases be useful. For example, you may actually sign up for a service online and when you do you may also agree to receive targeted ads.

Companies like this find it useful to track where you go 0nline (monitoring your surfing habits) and looking at what you do, in order to provide you with ads that are highly targeted to your interests. For example, if you were to search for dog food, spyware company may give you advertising from dog food companies. So, rather than seeing annoying ads that have no interest to you, you may instead see things that are targeted and useful to what you are searching for.

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Facebook profiles targeted by hackers

Facebook , the world’s largest online social networking site, has been the victim of five separate security problems over the last week, including a virus and four malicious applications.

Rascal application invites
The spiteful applications often work by posing as invites from friends asking Facebook users to sign up to an application. An example given is of an attempt to trick Facebook users by claiming that their friends were having trouble looking at their profile, and that they needed to add the application to solve the problem.

If the application is added it spams itself to every Facebook friend that a member of the site has in an attempt to steal saleable information from the profiles of those who open it up.

The BBC report gives comments from online security expert Rik Ferguson, senior security advisor at online security retailer Trend Micro. Mr Ferguson said that the way that Facebook is built can make it tricky for members to spot malicious or rogue applications, and that it was time for Facebook to review its policy of approving applications. Currently, it only vets them after they are offered to members and have been reported as causing problems.

Koobface virus
Facebook users have also been targeted in the last few days by a computer virus known as the Koobface virus, which originally hit MySpace and Facebook users in December 2008.
The latest version of the Koobface computer virus sends a Facebook message that appears to be from a friend to a Facebook user's profile. The message directs them to visit a webpage appearing to be on the YouTube website, where they are asked to download a piece of software or play a video.

The apparent YouTube web page is fake. If online users play the video or download the software, their computer becomes infected with a computer virus which searches for cookies on the victim's computer and uses the details it finds to enter other social networks the user is signed up to. The virus then searches for an infected computer user’s friends, who are then sent messages containing a link where a copy of the virus is downloaded.

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