New Facebook Phishing Scam Will Hijack Your Account
This recent phishing attack has made its way across Facebook by leading users to a convincing looking -- but fake -- Facebook log-in screen. If you enter your information, the scam site then locks you out of your account and sends the original message out to all your friends. Fortunately, at present time, it doesn't look like there is any additional malicious payload, which means no virus or no spyware. It's just account hijacking for the sake of it.
Facebook has already blocked the address, which should put an end to the annoyance, but some users are still locked out of their accounts until Facebook finishes cleaning up the mess.
The best way to avoid such attacks, as we always say, is using common sense. Don't follow links or open files from people and addresses you don't trust, and never enter passwords or other sensitive information in a page unless you're sure the site is secure. And always check the URL to make sure you're on the site you think you are. [From: Mashable]
Weirdest Techie Heists and Scams
Elderly Amish Man Caught on Film With Prostitute, Blackmailed
When a 75-year-old Amish widower slept with a prostitute, he -- we feel certain -- felt pretty bad about it the next morning. As if that guilt weren't enough for the old man, the prostitute and her boyfriend demanded $67,000 from him, claiming that they had filmed the scene with wall-mounted cameras and would upload the recording to the Internet. The pair was later arrested and, we can only imagine, the Amish man abhorred technology more than ever.
Bank Robber Gets Away With the Help of Craiglist
In October, a bank robber -- wearing a safety vest, blue shirt, face mask and goggles -- eluded police with the help of Craiglist. Just outside the bank, while the robbery was in progress, stood a group of men who were responding to a Craiglist day labor opportunity. As the advertisement required, they were all wearing safety vests, blue shirts, face masks and goggles.
Nude New Zealander Arrested After Responding to Fake Sexy Text Message
Late in 2007, a Wellington, New Zealand man received a racy text message from two anonymous "ladies," giving him only an address and a request that he show up naked. Well, he indeed showed up naked... at the home of one appalled, unsuspecting New Zealander. Both the nude Romeo and the sadistic texter were arrested, though neither were prosecuted.
Fake Craiglist Ad Costs Man Most of What He Owns
Last Spring, a post appeared on an Oregon Craigslist board stating that the owner of a specific house was leaving all of his worldly possessions (still in said house) to whoever wanted them. When homeowner Robert Salisbury rushed home -- on a tip from a woman suspicious about the offer of a free horse -- he found his house being ransacked by 30 strangers. We suggest he take that horse and collect some vengeance Clint Eastwood-style.
17-Year-Old Jailed for Stealing Virtual 'Furniture'
When a 17-year-old Dutch boy hacked into several accounts on the Second Life-style site 'Habbo' in 2007, the the law got involved. The boy was discovered to have stolen $5,800 worth of virtual furniture and knick-knacks. Apparently, crime -- whether actual or virtual -- does not pay.
Phishers Going After Your Phones in New 'Vishing' Trend
Over the past year, sneaky spammers have begun to forsake the worn-out territory of e-mail in favor of cell phones' fertile frontier. The result? "Vishing." Get it? Voice mail + phishing. It might be more ominous if it didn't sound like a James Bond villain saying, "Wishing."
Burglars Break Into Restaurant, Steal HDTV, Leave Money / Food Behind
Around Halloween of last year, a truckload of thieves drove into -- that's right, into -- a Pennsylvania Mexican restaurant, where they -- apparently uninterested in the cash register -- stole a mid-grade 47-inch HDTV and fled the scene. We've all heard about how this generation is lacking in ambition, but this generation's thieves, too?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Wright said 6:02PM on 4-30-2009
The cavalcade of security risks at Facebook is remarkable. The risks are a threat to workplace-related computers. Employers/organizations thus have security as a reason to block social network sites. http://computersafety.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/security-threat-facebook-and-myspace-at-work/ --Ben
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Billie BA said 8:18AM on 5-04-2009
I think this has already worked it's way over to other sites similar to facebook. Last nite, my daughter and her freinds were subjected to a bulletin on myspace that when you clicked it, you were immediately phished and the bulletin automatically reposted under your account. All of a sudden all her friends were posting bulletins that they didn't post, and this happened here too. So beware. Hidden linkys can be dangerous.
FBS said 3:12AM on 5-01-2009
Ditched my Facebook account back when copyright issues and privacy issues were the news. Best thing I ever did. With all of the other alternatives, why anyone still uses that disaster is beyond me. Facebook needs to die a quick death.
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lucysgirl07 said 5:25PM on 5-04-2009
Hey...I use facebook and I am smart about it. I am attending Owens Community College and I don't:
-Post pics of myself that others may view as inappropriate
-post offensive material
-have friends that I don't know or have never met on my page/ accept friend requests from people in other countries whom I don't know
I think people have to have common sense when using a social networking site. If you feel that you have a log-in screen that doesn't look like the normal screen you can always x out of the screen and contact the website with the Contact Us option at the bottom of most webpages.
Better to be safe than sorry.
Richie Rich said 10:19AM on 5-04-2009
Facebook may have these problems that you state, but whats not to say that the site you are on right now, leaving comments and all, is safe? Nothing is on the internet is safe these days. In defense of FB, if wasn't for them, I and thousands of others would have never reconnected with old friends (that I had lost touch with) from the past!
krom74 said 1:51PM on 5-04-2009
what other alternatives other than myspace?? Please tell....
Max said 4:33PM on 5-02-2009
I love facebook. I upload pictures to my page with my phone while I'm out and about. My children are all grown and distant and even though a thousand miles seperate us all we can stay in touch that way. I was careful who my friends and relatives are that can actually view the pictures I upload and have had no trouble. I am amused that FBS thinks it needs to die, I rather am glad that it continues to run.
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lois said 9:33PM on 5-02-2009
what ever happened to making pictures????????giving them to your relatives without sending out in space for god knows who to get???????i think there would be less stuff going on in the world if everyone wasnt on face book or my space or whatever else.......i know its quicker than mail but nothing can compare to get something in the mail you have been waiting for...its fun.....and so exciting when you get it and open i love that.......much better than getting on the computer dont get me wrong i like my computer also but the other is more fun....
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Lu McInturff said 8:07AM on 5-04-2009
Lois, My brother lives across the USA. Although special pictures are printed and sent to Mom, to have event pictures such as birthdays with immediate access means the world to our family.
Cindy Lou said 12:22PM on 7-14-2009
No one can view your pictures, your profile is locked. It is only open to your trusted friends. So your pictures arent our is space for everyone.
Cindy Lou said 3:05PM on 7-14-2009
Its free to send on Facebook. Postage stamps keep going up.
Max said 10:33PM on 5-02-2009
Think green lois. Less effort doesn't mean I love my kids less and the pictures are just fine thanks. They in fact pull them off the computer and put the pictures on their phone to share with others as well. I will digress by saying I feel quite modern thanks.
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RossltnPierre said 6:28AM on 5-04-2009
I am very new to face book ande i realize it is quite easy to get access to someone account especially if they are one of your friends or family. I really find that face book need to put mesures into place to stop easy access into other peoples site.
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nataliepires7 said 6:40AM on 5-04-2009
This is getting unbeleivable!, I go back to wonder what is truely safe in this world of cyber, technology and what not. I hope nothing has been ruined in my account
I don't use it as much as I used to. If my friends get annoying messages or anything I hope they can forgive me.
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LGTHINK said 6:39AM on 5-04-2009
NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED!! WHAT A JOKE!! THIS REMINDS ME OF THE BLIND MAN WHO WAS STRUCK BY A CAR, WHILE CROSSING THE STREET, AND WAS GIVEN A TICKET BY THE CINCINNATI COPS BECAUSE HE WAS NOT WALKING IN THE CROSSWALK AT THE TIME!! NUTS-NUTS-NUTS
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cruzinmachine said 7:30AM on 5-04-2009
fbstarter.com also is one. i was victim like a idiot!!
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Jackson said 7:42AM on 5-04-2009
Why people waste their time with this crap is beyond me.
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Deb said 3:13PM on 5-16-2009
yet you just did
Mike said 7:46AM on 5-04-2009
People need to start using their brain. So many are quick to give out their personal info w/o a second thought. Don't blame someone else blame yourself for being so gullible.
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mcenaney03 said 7:49AM on 5-04-2009
I joined Facebook and without my permission, they went into my address book and sent "invites" to all to join me on facebook. What an invasion of privacy. I am getting out of it and not joining any group again.
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