The Next Big Viral Thing on Facebook: a Virus

"Koobface" spreads disguised as a friend's message
By Clay Dillow,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 5, 2008 9:52 AM CST
The Next Big Viral Thing on Facebook: a Virus
In this undated image provided by Facebook is shown a page featuring the social networking site's new look.   (AP Photo/Facebook)

Once an unfriendly place for spammers and malware, Facebook today is dealing with a virus circulating among its 120 million users, the LA Times reports. “Koobface” comes disguised as a message from a friend with a subject like “You look so amazing funny on our new video,” then links users to a YouTube-like site that asks them to download "updated"—actually, infected—video software.

"Unfortunately, users are very trusting of messages left by 'friends' on social networking sites," said a security expert. "So the likelihood of a user clicking on a link like this is very high."
(More Facebook stories.)

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