Protect your Farmville and mind your tweets, because a malicious software program called “koob-face” is targeting Facebook and Twitter users.
Cyber-criminals are using messages on Facebook to lure would-be victims to click on a link, by promising something like an interesting video or sexy pictures.
The messages look real and are often sent from one of your Facebook friends.
But you have to download a special program, which really is spyware. It infects your computer and then it sends the same bogus message to all your Facebook friends.
Tech
"Just one person getting an infection on a social networking site actually opens the door to thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, or millions getting infected," said Jeff Debrosse, a computer security specialist.
"Koob-face" has been around for a while, but hackers are trying to lure gullable Facebook users to give up their personal information with new tricks, according to McAfee.
E-mails with a subject line of "Facebook Password Reset Confirmation! Customer Support" are sent saying that people's passwords on their Facebook accounts have been reset and that they should log in to a site to get their new credentials. But if the attachment is opened, it downloads several types of malicious software, including a program that steals passwords, McAfee said.
You can keep your computer secure by always using an up-to-date browser and by keeping your anti-virus software updated.
