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Fake Twitter E-Mail Invite Carries Malicious Worm

by Caleb Johnson on June 19, 2009 at 04:10 PM


Twitter keeps on getting hit by phishing traps, scams, and worms. Recently, these attacks have come via links to YouTube videos, fake accounts, and infected tweets. Now, spammers are sending out fake e-mail invitations to join Twitter, according to Symantec's blog.

The e-mail, which has been sent to a large number of accounts and can be seen above, looks fairly legit, except for one tell-tale sign -- the body of the message does not include a URL that would direct users to the site. Instead, a .zip file called 'Invitation Card.zip' is attached to the message. Regular readers know the rule of thumb when it comes to unknown attachments: never, ever download or open them.
Symantec identified the attachment as the worm 'W32.Ackantta.B@mm,' which was also used in a February e-card virus attack. The worm gathers e-mail addresses stored on the infected computer and spreads via shared folders and removable disks. Symantec assessed the worm's threat level at medium, meaning it can disable some security-related programs, potentially making your computer an easier target for another attack.

With Twitter and other social networking sites gaining popularity, these traps, scams, and worms aren't going away any time soon. When it comes to unfamiliar links and attachments, skepticism and a discerning eye can go a long way in avoiding nasty infections. [From Symantec, via CNET News]

Tags: phishing, scam, security, social networking, SocialNetworking, top, twitter, worms

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