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PEST #4: KOOBFACE
Millions of Facebook’s users receive messages in their inboxes from their Facebook’s ‘friends’ like “you look funny in this new video” or “you look just awesome in this new video”. On clicking on the links, users are prompted to watch a “secret video by Tom”.
If you are a Facebook user you try and play the video, you are asked to download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player. Then, Bang! A deadly new virus called Koobface (an anagram of Facebook) hits your computer and millions of other Facebook users like you. According to an estimate, Facebook’s 120 million users became naked targets by the virus designed to get hold of sensitive information like credit card details. Koobface already hit the users of MySpace in August last year. The best way to get rid of the menace is to have a credible Anti-virus software installed and updated and constantly.
PEST #5: D-UA.H
Downloader-UA.h is another one in the series of downloader viruses that have begun this month to unleash its fury onto the uninformed netizens in a perfect game of deceit. Many music and video websites, especially www.fastmp3player.com contain links to files like the following which are enough to attract the attention of adolescents and young adults for obvious reasons (as evident from the names): preview-t-3545425-adult.mpg, preview-t-3545425-changing times earth wind .mp3, et al. When a user attempts to load one of these MP3 and MPG files, they are directed to download a file named PLAY_MP3.exe. When the user downloads and runs PlayMP3.exe, a 4,800 word (End user License Agreement) is displayed. The installed file, PlayMP3.exe from PlayMP3.biz, in reality acts as a browser control wrapped in an exe, which loads a webpage running the Wimpy MP3 Flash player.
All the personal information of the user can be gathered and sent to unidentified locations over the internet on the activation of the Trojan. The best way to remove the virus is to switch off the System Restore utility in the Properties section of My Computer.
There were the five online pests that have destroyed many working PCs in the recent past. We pray, do keep away; rather, stay protected!
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