Rechercher
Contactez-nous Suivez-nous sur Twitter En francais English Language
 

Freely subscribe to our NEWSLETTER

Newsletter FR

Newsletter EN

Vulnérabilités

Unsubscribe

Sophos: HIPPO-VOMITING Anaconda Targets Facebook users in survey scam

August 2010 by Sophos

IT security and data protection firm Sophos has produced a video warning computer users about a new survey scam that is spreading virally across Facebook. The attack involves a rogue application that automatically posts status updates and wall posts on affected user profiles with the following message:

"OMG, this is the biggest and scariest snake I have ever seen, check out this video [LINK REMOVED]"

The link takes users to a rogue Facebook application which tricks them into granting permission for the app to access their profile, list of friends and to be allowed to re-post the offending message as a status update and wall post. Once a user has granted access to the application, they are then directed to complete online surveys with the promise that only then can they see a video entitled "Anaconda Coughs Up An Entire Hippo!"

"This is one of the most bizarre scams we have ever seen on Facebook, but its purpose remains familiar - the rogue application sends spam to draw Facebook users into taking these surveys," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "Each time a victim completes a survey, the scammers make some commission. Even if you don’t take the survey, the rogue application has already abused your Facebook account - changing your status message and spreading an advert for the alleged ’shocking video’ to your news feed, spreading the scam even further."

Sophos demonstrates in the video - which journalists are free to embed - how Facebook users can delete entries related to the offending application, and how to remove the application itself.


See previous articles

    

See next articles


Your podcast Here

New, you can have your Podcast here. Contact us for more information ask:
Marc Brami
Phone: +33 1 40 92 05 55
Mail: ipsimp@free.fr

All new podcasts