Social Network-Related Attacks Increased in January 2013: GFI Software

According to the VIPRE Report launched by the GFI Software for January 2013, malware attacks that leverage social networks like Twitter, Facebook or Linkedin to con users had been focused.

In January 2013, the most interesting scams that had dispersed through Facebook was the one that depends on private messages informing victims that their accounts had been violating the policies that are considered annoying or insulting for Facebook users.

In this case, the crooks had been trying to influence the users in providing their facebook login credentials and other personal details.

The other kind of smart scheme depends on Twitter. Scammers have sent direct messages and informed users about a profile that was distributing nastly blogs about them. People clicking on the links were directed to a fake Twitter login page in which they were asked to login the site since their sessions had expired apparently for issues of security.

Also the LinkedIn scam saw members who recognize themselves as business owners getting spam emails informing them that an employ has sent them an event invitation. Clicking on the links in the spam email to the victims' sites having malware that hampered un-patched vulnerabilities on their systems.

The LinkedIn scam had noticed members that have considered themselves as business owners receiving spam e-mails that informed them that an employer has sent them an invitation. On clicking the links attached in the spam email.

According to Senior Threat Researcher at GFI Software, Christopher Boyd, more younger people entering the workforce believe that social networking is a standard form of everyday life. Cybercriminals, by spotlighting their efforts on these sites have increased chances of fooling around a larger number of users towards downloading unknowingly the malware into their PCs and mobile devices. Thus, these users end up in providing social network account information that can be utilized towards reaching even more potential victims, as reported by a statement in scmagazineuk.com on February 14, 2013.

During the month, and as far as malware are considered, Trojans and Adware conquered the top 10 e-threats, thus accounting for a total seven out of 10 detections, notifies GFI. Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (24.87%), Trojan.Win32.Sirefef (3.25%), GamePlayLabs (2.72%), Yontoo (v) (2.51%), BProtector (2.48%), Trojan.Win32.Generic.pak!cobra (2.47%), InstallBrain (fs) (1.76%), Wajam (1.69%), Wajam (fs) (1.45%), Trojan.Win32.Ramnit.c (v)(1.19%), are the top 10 malware threats that were tapped in January 2013.

Related article: Social Engineering – Another kind Of Hacking

» SPAMfighter News - 2/26/2013