Facebook Users Targeted With Password Stealing Virus

Hackers flooded the Internet with a virus that targeted Facebook’s estimated 400 million users in an effort to steal banking passwords and gather personal information. An email is sent to the recipient and informs that that the passwords on their accounts have been reset, urging them to click an attachment to obtain new login credentials. The attachment downloads several different types of malicious software, including a program that steals passwords, as announced by McAfee earlier this week.

Hackers have been looking for a way to target Facebook users for a while since the number of Facebook users has been steadily increasing. A Facebook spokesman said the company could not comment on the specific case, but pointed to a status update the company posted on their website earlier in the week warning users about the fake email and advising them to delete the email and to warn their friends.

McAfee estimates that hackers sent out tens of millions of spam across Asia, Europe, and the United States around Tuesday this past week. Dave Marcus, McAfee’s director of malware research and communications, said that he expects hackers will succeed in infecting millions of computers. “With Facebook as a lure, you potentially have 40 million people that can click on the attachment. If you get 10 percent success, that’s 40 million,” he said. The email’s subject line says “Facebook password reset confirmation customer support,” according to Marcus.

If you have received an email like this and weren’t aware of what to do, just simply delete the message and you can let out a sigh of relief. On the other end, if you recall receiving an email like this and opening it and downloading the attachment, hopefully your anti-virus picked it up and you are safe. Alternatively, you can head over to Microsoft’s website to download a free copy of Microsoft Security Essentials which is an excellent anti-virus, for those of you who don't have an anti-virus program.