Hackers increasingly targeting Facebook, mobile devices

Between the explosion of Facebook and other social
networks and our ever expanding use of mobile devices,
hackers continue finding new ways to get our information.

In just the past week, several new warnings have been
issued about growing security threats. Among them is a
new
computer virus spreading via the chat window on Facebook.
The instant messenger pops up with what appears to be a
message from a ‘friend’ with a link to an innocuous
looking website. But clicking on the link instantly
infects your computer or device.

“It’s not that unique anymore. One of the most
common ways people get infected is by clicking on a
link in Facebook,” said David Blake, systems engineer with
Seattle-based SWAT systems.

The latest worm was discovered by Trend Micro, a leading
computer security company which put out the alert about
what’s being called “Stekct.evl.”

“People are implicitly trusting communications from social
networks as well as the information that’s fed to their
mobile devices. And the hacker community at large, is
essentially trying to colonize more and more users by
exploiting these mobile apps and the social networks
themselves,” said Tom Kellermann, vice president of cyber
security with Trend Micro.

Kellermann says most people don’t ever realize they’ve
been infected because the worm immediately disarms anti-
virus and security technology.

Blake says the best way to protect yourself is common
sense.

“If you have any doubts about a link, just don’t click on
it. That is the simplest, most effective solution. Past
that, there are a lot of programs you can install to
prevent (viruses) from running if you do click on the
links.”

Blake recommends a program called “NoScript”, which forces
you to allow or “whitelist” all sources you connect to.

Trend Micro is among several security companies now
offering anti-virus and other apps specifically for mobile
devices including iPhones, iPads, and Androids.

The company’s “Smart Surfing” monitors over 4 billion
links, according to Kellermann. “So we create a
reputational database to identify whether links are evil
that day or whether those websites themselves have been
attacked.”

If a link is determined to be dangerous, the app warns
users and prevents them from connecting.

The battle between the hackers and those trying to stop
them isn’t ever going away. And Blake says ultimately,
common sense and caution are your best defense, especially
in our increasingly social and mobile world.

“Really, anywhere you have a large concentration of
people that’s what’s going to get targeted,” Blake says.