Facebook "sexy video" scam lures users into installing malware
It’s been a rough week for Facebook. First their privacy policies were run through the wringer, and now there’s another ad scam doing the rounds, looking to poach user’s sensitive information.
According to Sophos, thousands have been hit by a malware attack disguised as a naughty video. The “candid camera prank” encourages you to click a thumb of a suggestive image of a woman exercising, which then leads to the option of downloading the “correct video software” to view the clip in question. The download turns out to be an adware installer that grabs all of your info and plagues your desktop with pop-ups.
“You may want to watch a sexy video, but you’re more likely to end up being plagued by pop-up advertising,” warned Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.
“Not only is adware being installed on your computer, but the rogue Facebook application is posting the same message to all of your friends’ accounts.
“It’s no surprise that your friends might click to watch the movie when it looks to all intents and purposes that you are the person who has sent it to them.”
It’s a double-whammy of FAIL for anyone checking out the dodgy link then; not only will your computer be riddled with pesky advertisements, but all your friends will see you’ve been looking for a cheap thrill too. Doh!
