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By Chris Coulson, MCSE, MCPS, MCSA, MCNPS
Stambaugh Ness Business Solutions Network Consultant
Do you have a crush on Facebook? Spyware companies are betting on your curosity to find out.
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WHAT IS A WORM?
A worm is a program that makes copies of itself; for example, from one disk drive to another, or by copying itself using email or another transport mechanism.
The worm may do damage and compromise the security of the computer. It may arrive in the form of a joke program or software of some sort.
- Symantec Security Response Glossary | "Secret Crush" is a Social Worm unleashed on the Facebook social networking website. The worm was discovered by the Fortinet Global Security Research Team.
Users on Facebook may see a "Secret Crush" request, indicating someone has a "secret crush" on them. The request will ask users to install the Secret Crush application to find out who the secret crush is from. Like most applications on Facebook, it requires you to install a third-party application. The end users have to accept or deny the installation, and whether to allow this application to private Facebook security.
As soon as the user clicks allow/accept, they are prompted with an affillate page from Zango.com.
The resulting page opens a "Download Now" page on Zango.com. Zango.com is known for spyware and adware.
Facebook has grown faster than MySpace in the recent months. Such growth and popularlity will eventually lead to this type of abuse.
So, as a recap, please be careful what communities you decide to join. It may seem nice, and fancy but in the end, how much is your information, and privacy, worth?
Read the first installment in our Jan. 16 issue.
| Stambaugh Ness Business Solutions can help make your IT systems more secure. Contact Chris Coulson at 717-757-6999 or 800-745-8233 for more information. You can also send Chris an email by using the form below. |
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Our firm provides the information in this e-newsletter for general guidance only, and does not constitute the provision of legal advice, tax advice, accounting services, investment advice, or professional consulting of any kind. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional tax, accounting, legal, or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a professional adviser who has been provided with all pertinent facts relevant to your particular situation. Tax articles in this e-newsletter are not intended to be used, and cannot be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding accuracy-related penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. The information is provided "as is," with no assurance or guarantee of completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose.
IRS Circular 230 Notice: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any US tax advice contained in this communication is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code.
Securities and advisory services offered through Geneos Wealth Management, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Geneos Wealth Management, Inc is not affiliated with Stambaugh Ness. |
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