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Social Networks Attract Malware Authors

Looks like the Zanga attack on MySpace last summer was a bellwether. Tiny Tuba writes, "Parents and social network users have one more thing to worry about. According to a PC World article, increasingly bad guys are booby-trapping sites like My Space and Webshots with malware in the form of links, ads, bogus invitations to view pictures, and more." From the article: "Like pickpockets at a festival, money-minded malware authors are drawn by the huge crowds visiting social networking sites."

9 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. Oh no! My lacy bra just fell off of my first post! by BeeBeard · · Score: 3, Funny

    *downloads your bank account information*

  2. Zanga? by Hangin10 · · Score: 3, Informative

    That'd be Zango. Anyway, why wouldn't they release malware through myspace? It's userbase is huge. From the point of view of the mal..ware..ist(?), it's the ultimate distribution medium.

  3. in other news by Bloke+down+the+pub · · Score: 3, Funny
    "Like pickpockets at a festival, money-minded malware authors are drawn by the huge crowds visiting social networking sites."

    Huge clueless crowds gawping at $deity-knows-what and not paying attention.

    Film at 11.
    --
    It's true I tell you, feller at work's next door neighbour read it in the paper.
  4. normal? by User+956 · · Score: 4, Funny

    According to a PC World article, increasingly bad guys are booby-trapping sites like My Space and Webshots with malware in the form of links, ads, bogus invitations to view pictures, and more.

    What, you mean that's not what normally passes for content on MySpace?

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  5. Re:a learning experience by grub · · Score: 3, Funny


    This will open up the way for Norton MySpace Security Only $29.95 a year!

    --
    Trolling is a art,
  6. Add the Duh! tag now by zappepcs · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Is it just me, or is everyone else having trouble understanding why this is news.

    Ants are invading picnics... news at 11.

  7. Re:a learning experience by Cap'nPedro · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Are you sure they'll even know where the malware came from/how they were infected?

    Even if they're told, will they believe it?

  8. Quick! Outlaw Something! by Bob9113 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Clearly what we need in response to this new threat is more laws. We must outlaw things so that our children can be protected from these online predators. And while we may not be sure exactly what to outlaw, surely we can start by outlawing things that are new or used by strange people. It may not solve the problem, but we can't know for sure until we start outlawing things. In this new world of threats that have never been seen before, we have to have the courage to pass laws before we know what is wrong. The only other option is to wait until after the ambiguous threat has caused the damage it may or may not intend to cause. We simply cannot stand idly by and let that maybe happen.

  9. It's already outlawed by Chemisor · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Hacking into some system, to install malware or whatever, is already illegal. One wonders why these people are not more often found and thrown in prison. Considering that quite a few of them show advertisements (adware) or contact some global host owned by somebody (spyware) it ought not to be very hard to follow the money and find the culprit. Web sites have ownership, and so are trackable. Companies have ownership, and so can be found. Companies that sell stuff can definitely be found and very easily. Why isn't the police arresting them?