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Thread: Facebook users hit by attack

  1. #1
    Master Boy Wonder's Avatar
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    Facebook users hit by attack

    I don't normally pass on warnings about viruses etc which usually turn out to be spurious, but this one is genuine (on PC Advisor website today) so be careful if you get any messages appearing to come from FaceBook. (And I know that 75% of you will not care what happens as you're not users - not really sure why I'm on it myself!)

    A massive bot-based attack has been hitting Facebook users, with nearly three-quarters of a million users receiving fake password reset messages, according to security researchers. The attack targets Facebook users with a spoofed message that claims recipients' Facebook passwords have been reset as a security measure.

    The messages, which come bearing subject lines such as 'Facebook Password Reset Confirmation', include a file attachment that supposedly contains the new password. In fact, the attached .zip file includes a Trojan downloader, dubbed 'Bredlab' by some antivirus companies, 'Bredolab' by others. The downloader grabs a variety of malware from hacker servers, including fake security software, or 'scareware', and installs attack code and rogue antivirus applications on the compromised PCs.

    Multiple security companies, including Symantec, Trend Micro, MX Lab and Websense, have put out warnings about the attack campaign. "This variant of Bredolab connects to a Russian domain and the infected machine is most likely becoming part of a Bredolab botnet," said Shunichi Imano, a security researcher at Symantec, in a post to the firm's
    security blog .

    Jamie Tomasello, Cloudmark's abuse operations manager, said her company alone has detected nearly three-quarters of a million phony Facebook messages since Monday. "Our count continues to go up, and is at about 735,000 now," said Tomasello. "It's a pretty high volume."

    Facebook did not respond to a request for comment on the attacks, or to questions what it is doing, or can do, to stymie the campaign or warn its users.
    "You gotta put a little bit of ****ing fairy dust over the bastard"

  2. #2

    Re: Facebook users hit by atta

    I had a facebook 'friend' cull today. Very cathartic!

    Don't worry, you lot are still my friends!

  3. #3
    Master OneHillWonder's Avatar
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    Re: Facebook users hit by atta

    Ah now I understand you facebook status!

    A couple of people I know have been hacked in this way

  4. #4
    Grandmaster dominion's Avatar
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    Re: Facebook users hit by atta

    That article is very misleading. The infected spam emails are going to random email addresses, regardless of whether the recipient has a facebook account or not. They know that a significant number of people do have facebook accounts, so they think it's from facebook, when actually it isn't. Facebook security hasn't been compromised.

  5. #5
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    Re: Facebook users hit by atta

    Quote Originally Posted by dominion View Post
    That article is very misleading. The infected spam emails are going to random email addresses, regardless of whether the recipient has a facebook account or not. They know that a significant number of people do have facebook accounts, so they think it's from facebook, when actually it isn't. Facebook security hasn't been compromised.
    So its no different to the mails I get saying my Alliance and Leicester account has been compromised, when I don't have one?
    Poacher turned game-keeper

  6. #6
    Grandmaster + stevefoster's Avatar
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    Re: Facebook users hit by atta

    Quote Originally Posted by Derby Tup View Post
    So its no different to the mails I get saying my Alliance and Leicester account has been compromised, when I don't have one?
    Aye, keep getting them meself, never been to Alliance or Leicester
    Went to Lougabarruga once
    Loughborough before anyone asks.
    Hills and Guinness!

  7. #7
    Orange Pony Hanneke's Avatar
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    Re: Facebook users hit by atta

    My business has had several of those e-mails already, going streight into the spam box... and yes DT, the same thing...
    “the cause of my pain, was the cause of my cure” Rumi

  8. #8
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    Re: Facebook users hit by atta

    Quote Originally Posted by merrylegs View Post
    Aye, keep getting them meself, never been to Alliance or Leicester
    Went to Lougabarruga once
    Loughborough before anyone asks.
    I went to Loughborough once; it was closed!
    Poacher turned game-keeper

  9. #9
    Grandmaster + stevefoster's Avatar
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    Re: Facebook users hit by atta

    Quote Originally Posted by Derby Tup View Post
    I went to Loughborough once; it was closed!
    Usually shuts on Wednesday's due to lack of interest, eldest son's girlfriend used to be in charge of turning all the lights off on Tuesday night
    Hills and Guinness!

  10. #10

    Re: Facebook users hit by atta

    Quote Originally Posted by Derby Tup View Post
    I went to Loughborough once; it was closed!
    I went there for 4 years once.

    Rather than attend lectures I spent much of those 4 years in 'the left legged pineapple' record shop.
    www.robgrillo.co.uk
    IS THAT THE 12" MIX

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