Facebook, Twitter users warned vs 'Obama' malware campaign

Barely a week after he was reelected into office, US President Barack Obama II has been dragged into a new malware campaign targeting Facebook and Twitter users.

 

The campaign uses spams or unsolicited messages on Twitter claiming to have a video showing Obama "punch(ing) a guy in the face," security vendor Panda Security said.

 

"Users receive a direct message on Twitter, which contains the text 'Check out Obama punch a guy in the face for calling him a nigger,' and a malicious link to a fake Facebook page. If you click the link, you will be taken to a bogus Facebook page where you are prompted to submit your Twitter login details," Panda said in a blog post.

 

It said Twitter users who enter your credentials risk malware hijacking their accounts to send the same malicious message to all of their followers.

 

But that's not all - the Twitter user will be taken to a website that displays a fake YouTube video, with a fake Facebook background.

 

Clicking on the Install button for a supposed YouTube player will download the Koobface.LP worm, "which will infect your computer and steal all of your personal data," Panda said.

 

"This attack exploits the two most popular social networking sites, Facebook and Twitter, to trick users into believing they are viewing a trusted site.  It also relies on its victims’ curiosity by using a scandalous story involving U.S. President Barack Obama and racism. Cyber-criminals know people are curious by nature and take advantage of this to trick users and infect them with their creations," Panda said.

 

It advised Twitter and Facebook users to always keep antivirus software up to date and be wary of messages offering sensational videos or unusual stories.

 

"(In) 99 percent of cases, they are designed to compromise user security," it added. — TJD, GMA News