Malicious applications target Orkut
Visitors to infected social network profiles redirected to phishing sites.
Users of the social networking site Orkut have found themselves
targeted by malicious applications that redirect visitors to phishing URLs, according to researchers at
Kaspersky Lab.
Orkut, founded by Google at the beginning of 2004, was
one of the first big social networking sites. While in many countries
its popularity has been dwarfed by that of Facebook and
Myspace, it remains hugely popular in Brazil and India.
Unsurprisingly, it is also popular with malware writers:
among the 16,000+ 'apps' that can be added to a user's profile,
some apparently have malicious intentions.
One such malicious application promised the ability to
watch TV through one's profile. However, rather than delivering TV
content, the application redirected visitors
to phishing URLs, which were used to steal login credentials. The
malware also used the infected profile to spread itself via messages
to the infected users' contacts and within groups.
Another malicious application redirected visitors to a site which demanded
a 20 Brazilian real (approx. $12) ransom in order for the users
to regain access to their profiles.
Once notified, Google was quick to take the malicious applications offline.
More details are available at Kaspersky's Securelist blog here.
Social networks are increasingly the target for cybercriminals, offering new ways for those with malicious intent
to steal sensitive data. At the VB
seminar, Sophos's Graham Cluley will discuss
cybercrime on social networks, looking at how attacks have evolved, how social networking sites are
trying to defend against exploitation, and what companies and individuals can do to better defend themselves.
The VB Seminar takes
place at the IET London, UK from 9am to 4pm on 25 November 2010.
Secure your place by
booking online now. (Or download a PDF
copy of the
booking form and fax
the completed form to +44 (0)1865 543153.)
10 November 2010
Tags:
orkut, phishing, ransomware, social networking.
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