Tech | August 08, 2008 | 4 comments

Facebook tries to exterminate worm

source: http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/social_network/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=2100...

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Since Wednesday, somewhere between 900 and 1,800 Facebook users appear to have been affected by a computer worm that spams their message Walls, urging them to click on a purported video link that actually leads to malware.

The URL of the "video" is designed to look like it leads to Google or YouTube. In fact, it leads to a Trojan downloader on a server associated with a .cn (China) domain. If the link is clicked, it installs Trojan software and downloads an image of a jester.
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4 comments // Facebook tries to exterminate worm

  • armchaircritic
    • 0
      armchaircritic  

    • Well go facebook users! lol. Exterminate a worm is pretty harsh wording for a plain ol' virus..

      Question: if you happen to be generally web-savvy and have your usual firewall software and decent browser secuity going on (in effect- not using Internet Explorer) just how likely are you to be infected?

      My assumption is that if you have your security done, then you are not that likely to fall victim. I have 3 separate alerts that happen even if I click a link or visit by accident a site like this. So yeah internet explorer sux... oh well.

    • 3 years ago
  • rightbrain
    • 0
      rightbrain  
    • armchaircritic:

      Yeah, think you're right. Your normal virus detection should be able to catch it as you're downloading it. Unless of course it's a new virus, and your software doesn't have the virus definition for it yet.

    • 3 years ago
  • armchaircritic
    • 0
      armchaircritic  
    • armchaircritic:

      There's the definition of 'downloading' also here.. most internet users imagine that every webpage you visit can be a cause for concern. However, if you use an up to date secure browser, then you're generally well covered. Read: Firefox, Opera, Safari, Konqueror (and other linux derivatives) If you use Internet Explorer however, then that's the biggest concern, since most real 'click to download' viruses focus on the vulnerabilities of that browser. Most other browsers will flag any real suspicious behaviour immediately, whereas IE has vulnerabilities that allow an 'easy way in'. so to speak...

    • 3 years ago
  • rightbrain
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