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September 8, 2009

Swotting up on Facebook virus exposes web users

Malicious sites claim to have info on Fan Check

Carrie-Ann Skinner

Web users searching the internet for information on the latest Facebook virus could be unintentionally putting themselves at risk of phishing scams, says Sophos.

According to the security firm, rumours are circulating on Twitter, blogs and message boards about Fan Check - a new malicious application for social networking site Facebook.

Despite there being no evidence that the application is malicious, web users are heading to search engines such as Google to look for information on the rogue app.

However, Sophos says that some of the sites that claim to have information on Fan Check are actually loaded with fake anti-virus software that infects their PC and put users at risk of having their financial details stolen.

"A word to the wise - be careful what you search for when scouring the net for information. It is the fear of the application that is leading internet users into danger," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.

"Once directed to a malicious website, bogus anti-virus software is planted onto your system and is designed to defraud you and take over your computer."

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See also: Facebook hit by five security threats in one week

Free whitepaper: Phishing for victims - Truth, myth and cybercrime

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