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Homer Simpson and the Kimya Botnet

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the why-you-little dept.

An anonymous reader writes "As all hardcore Simpsons fans know, Chunkylover53@aol.com was revealed to be Homer Simpsons' email address in one particular episode, registered by one of the shows writers, who would reply to fans as Homer himself. After a flood of messages, 'Homer' signed off — seemingly forever. Well in the last few days, security company Facetime Communications reports that anyone who had Homer on their AIM buddy list would have noticed his sudden reappearance. Unfortunately for all, he appears to have been hacked and pushing malware links which deposit those unlucky enough to run the file into a Turkish Botnet. The message claims the file is a 'web exclusive' episode of the TV show — an interesting way of targeting a specific group of fans who would assume Homers return would only coincide with something special like (say) a TV episode just for them. What I want to know is, is Homer smart enough to run an AV scan?"

14 of 83 comments (clear)

  1. Opening files by Wowsers · · Score: 5, Funny

    Opening unknown files could get you hacked. Doh!

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    Take Nobody's Word For It.
  2. Obligiatory Homer Quote by charliebear · · Score: 5, Funny

    They have the Internet on computers now?

  3. Running AIM and clicking on random executables? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sounds more like Ralph.

  4. Ineteresting tactic by notnAP · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Anyone in the printing or marketing industries is familiar with the concept of Variable Data Printing (aka One-to-One Marketing, or any of a number of other marketing buzz words). If you cater the ad/promo/mailing to the recipient, you can send out far fewer pieces to fewer participants, but thanks to higher hit percentage, yield better results.

    I'm sure the number of attempted infections from this attack are very small in the scale of typical virus'. But I would not be surprised if the number of successful infections was pretty high, relatively speaking.

  5. I can imagine how this will wrap up by SirLurksAlot · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Hello, this is Homer Simpson aka Chunkylover53! The court has ordered me to IM every person in town to apologize for my botnet scheme. I'm sorry. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, send one dollar to : Sorry Dude, 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield. You have the power!"

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    God, schmod. I want my monkey man!
    1. Re:I can imagine how this will wrap up by Daniel+Weis · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'll need your state to actually send the dollar to you. :)

    2. Re:I can imagine how this will wrap up by SirLurksAlot · · Score: 4, Funny

      Of course! It's the state bordered by Ohio, Nevada, Maine, and Kentucky. You know the one!

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      God, schmod. I want my monkey man!
  6. homer... by owlnation · · Score: 4, Funny

    mmmmmmmm... trojans...

    1. Re:homer... by FlyingSquidStudios · · Score: 4, Funny

      mmmmmmmmmm... turkey...

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      http://twitter.com/OLDTELEGRAM
  7. Re:he's not online by plover · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't know why you had a problem. That's a perfectly cromulent username.

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    John
  8. Re:he's not online by phobos13013 · · Score: 3, Funny

    It is very embiggening of you to make this comment!

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    ...and it should be known by now
  9. Re:I'm not impressed easily. by hvm2hvm · · Score: 3, Funny

    Mhmmmm, turkey... Mhmmm, botnet..

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    ics
  10. Re:All TV characters should have e-mail addresses by maxume · · Score: 3, Funny

    There was more to those brownies than you thought.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  11. Re:All TV characters should have e-mail addresses by magarity · · Score: 5, Funny

    All TV characters should have e-mail addresses. It's a no-brainer
     
    Yeah, but only Homer Simpson should have an @aol.com address.