warning for social network users (facebook, myspace, etc)

[donia]

from our computer administrator at work:


Within the last few months, we have seen a dramatic increase in computers infected with viruses known to spread through facebook and other social networking web sites. These are particularly virulent viruses that are not typically stopped by anti-virus software because the user (unintentionally) agrees to allow the software to be installed.

This virus commonly spreads as a result of a user clicking on a video link within a social networking site. The link will appear to have come from a friend suggesting that a user watch a certain video. The videos are generally faked and have varying associated phrases such as: see what I got caught doing, check this out, you gotta see this, look what I did, this is funny, etc.

When the user clicks on the video link, the user is tricked into accepting what is claimed to be an update of the software that allows videos to be played. Instead, it is a virus. Once the user clicks “Yes” to allow the update, the virus is installed. Sometimes the video is actually played and other times it is not.

Never agree to accept any type of update to the system that pops up while in facebook or some other social networking site. Always choose “Cancel” or whatever prompt is offered that declines the update.

[deltadog]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Faithful Retrievers]

SOB I would love to string these fockers by their balls and beat them in the head with a sledge hammer, that send these viruses out.

[marshmaniac]

I'm thinking its probably the same people that make the antivirus as well as the virus. Make a virus and make a killing selling antivirus software. Just a thought....

[aweyerman]

Gotta be something along those lines. I mean think about it... Why would anyone in their right mind just sit there and make a virus to "@#$%#" up some people they don't even know? I know there are some sick folks in this world but c'mon.

[donia]

I know there are some sick folks in this world but c'mon.

because there are some sick mofo's in the world that get off on it, i assure you. one of the guys that used to work at computer services was a hacker originally and he swapped from being a hacker to tracking hackers. he was pretty interesting to talk to about all of this type stuff and said it is a real thrill knowing that you wielded the power to cause so much mayhem against so many people without leaving the comfort of their lil introverted world - it is bragging rights for them.

....but there will always be the "conspiracy theorists" about almost any situation...i've been told by people that (and the people telling me believed what they were saying 100%) the boll weevil program was a conspiracy by the chemical company that makes the chemical we use, the makers of the traps we use, the makers of the pheramone, all the way down to the fiberglass company that made the trap sticks we used . give me a freakin' break!!!!

do you think the people that get on here just to give people grief were asked to do so by the admin or mods, so they'll have something to moderate??? NO, they do it for their own PIA thrills. same thing with hacker that create viruses just to mess with people-it is a head trip for them. now days many viruses are actually more menacing than that - they are used to record key strokes to get your passwords, or to monitor your activity to get your personal info to exploit it for their gain (id theft, bank acct info, etc), or to use your computer as a medium to cause other havoc, which makes them much harder to track down.

there are free anti-virus programs that you can download, but the reason they don't work quite as well as the pay software is because there are significant man-hours put into trying to break the code to be able to detect the viruses that the pay softwares catch....or do you think the freewares are created by the pay softwares, as well, as pawns?

[4dawgma]

Just don't open the video of the little baby on the crapper.

They are pretty is to spot, a friend post the same dumbass video on everyone's wall. It means they got hacked. I just delete it from my wall.

And I agree with stringing the little sh!ts up and working them over with a ballpeen hammer

[Deltaquack]

I know there are some sick folks in this world but c'mon.

because there are some sick mofo's in the world that get off on it, i assure you. one of the guys that used to work at computer services was a hacker originally and he swapped from being a hacker to tracking hackers. he was pretty interesting to talk to about all of this type stuff and said it is a real thrill knowing that you wielded the power to cause so much mayhem against so many people without leaving the comfort of their lil introverted world - it is bragging rights for them.

....but there will always be the "conspiracy theorists" about almost any situation...i've been told by people that (and the people telling me believed what they were saying 100%) the boll weevil program was a conspiracy by the chemical company that makes the chemical we use, the makers of the traps we use, the makers of the pheramone, all the way down to the fiberglass company that made the trap sticks we used . give me a freakin' break!!!!

do you think the people that get on here just to give people grief were asked to do so by the admin or mods, so they'll have something to moderate??? NO, they do it for their own PIA thrills. same thing with hacker that create viruses just to mess with people-it is a head trip for them. now days many viruses are actually more menacing than that - they are used to record key strokes to get your passwords, or to monitor your activity to get your personal info to exploit it for their gain (id theft, bank acct info, etc), or to use your computer as a medium to cause other havoc, which makes them much harder to track down.

there are free anti-virus programs that you can download, but the reason they don't work quite as well as the pay software is because there are significant man-hours put into trying to break the code to be able to detect the viruses that the pay softwares catch....or do you think the freewares are created by the pay softwares, as well, as pawns?

I watched a documentary not too long ago.........one of the biggest hackers ever now makes big bucks as the Consultant to the White House and Department of Defense. His sole job is to put things in place to keep hackers out........as well as i'm sure spying on the middle easterners. Anything computer related......he's working on for them. Get some big viruses and hacks out there and you've got a great Resume.