Facebook Viruses Make Users Uneasy

Yahoo Tech reported that Facebook has seen five different security threats in the past week.

Trend Micro, a software company that specializes in viruses, malware, spam, and Web-based threats, warned of four new hoax applications that are attempting to trick members into disclosing username and password information.

Among the threats seen this week is the familiar Koobface worm, which tricks users into installing malware that gives users control of their computers. Once installed, Koobface will search a computer's social-networking cookies. Using the login information stored in those cookies, the malware can search sites like Facebook and compile a directory of friends. Friends will be sent a message to check out a link, usually described as a funny video. After clicking the link, users will be taken to a third-party site where they will be asked to install a file. If successfully installed, the newly-infected computer's user information will be discovered, and the chain continues.

Facebook has over 175 million users and is seen as an attractive target for malware hackers. Sophos security analyst Michael Argast said the social aspect of social-networking sites makes it easy for attackers to get results.

"Many users have been conditioned not to open an attachment from an email or click on a link found within, but won't think twice about checking out a hot new video linked to by a trusted friend on Facebook."

He called the Koobface worm a mix of something old, using fake codec Trojans to trick users into installing malware, and something new, using social networking as a means to spread the malware. He advised people to run up-to-date antivirus software, restrict which Facebook applications they install, to think twice before clicking on links from friends, and to never, never install a codec from a random Website.