Brands on Facebook are being warned about the spread of a new virus after attackers posted a porn video on the social media site, which it is claimed has already infected 110,000 computers in just two days.
The video instructs users to download a fake Flash Player update, which enables attackers to gain remote access to their computer, also taking over their keyboard and mouse.
Online security expert Mohammad Faghani alerted Facebook users to the malicious download in his security blog Full Disclosure. He wrote: “We have been monitoring this malware for the last two days where it could infect more than 110K users only in two days and it is still on the rise. This malware keeps its profile low by only tagging less than 20 users in each round of post.”
The virus operates differently from previous social media threats as it tags friends in the malicious post, rather than privately messaging them. This enables the post to receive greater visibility as friends of friends may see the video, speeding up the spread of the malware.
Facebook released a statement claiming it was on the case: “We use a number of automated systems to identify potentially harmful links and stop them from spreading. In this case, we’re aware of these malware varieties, which are typically hosted as browser extensions and distributed using links on social media sites.
“We are blocking links to these scams, offering clean-up options, and pursuing additional measures to ensure that people continue to have a safe experience on Facebook.”
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Be careful what you’re watching…Facebook porn virus hits thousands http://t.co/ZnGuvHQ3MK #directmarketing #digitalmarketing #socialmedia