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Has Virus attacked Facebook?
400 million users targeted
Hackers have flooded the Internet with virus-tainted spam
that targets Facebook's estimated 400 million users in an effort to steal
banking passwords and gather other sensitive information. The emails tell
recipients that the passwords on their Facebook accounts have been reset,
urging them to click on an attachment to obtain new login credentials,
according to anti-virus software maker McAfee Inc.
Infected network
If the attachment is opened, it downloads several types of
malicious software, including a programme that steals passwords, McAfee said.
Hackers have long targeted Facebook users, sending them tainted messages via
the social networking company's own internal email system. With this new
attack, they are using regular Internet email to spread their malicious
software.
Delete infected mail
A Facebook spokesman said the company could not comment on
the specific case, but pointed to a status update the company posted on its
website earlier warning users about the spoofed email and advising users to delete
the email and to warn their friends.
Virus spreading everywhere
McAfee estimates that hackers sent out tens of millions of
spam across Europe, the United States and Asia since the campaign began on
Tuesday. Dave Marcus, McAfee's director of malware research and communications,
said that he expects the hackers will succeed in infecting millions of
computers.
Pay attention to 'subject'
"With Facebook as your lure, you potentially have 400
million people that can click on the attachment. If you get 10 per cent
success, that's 40 million," he said. The email's subject line says
"Facebook password reset confirmation customer support," according to
Marcus.
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