Latest news
The unfortunate users who can't suppress their curiosity and follow the link are taken to a Facebook App page that tells them that they can't view the video in question unless they are logged into Twitter:

Unfortunately, the offered login page is not Twitter's, and the submitted login credentials end up on the scammers' servers and will be used for mischief at a later date.
But that's not all.
Once the victims have "logged in," they are faced with another obstacle to watching the video: they need to update their "Youtube Player."
"Users may get an impression that they’re still within the App page; however, the Facebook elements of this page are all fake," GFI researchers point out. "Clicking Install downloads a file named FlasshPlayerV11.1.37.18.exe."
The file in question is a Trojan variant that is currently detected only by half of the AV solutions used by VirusTotal, and its main goal is to drop and execute another malicious file named javas.exe.
GFI researchers say that their findings suggest that it’s a stand-alone malware that simply performs its tasks on an affected system once it executes, and that it does not establish any form of communication over the Internet nor does it steal information.
On the other hand, these particular files are not unknown, and Webroot says that javas.exe variants are known to sometime be cloaked banking information stealers that are also capable - among other things - of reading email address and phone book details, as well as open browser pop ups.
In the end, it doesn't really matter what it really does - the important thing to know is that it's altogether bad news. And it's also good to know that this same exact approach - but with a different lure - has been spotted just yesterday.
As PandaLabs' Luis Corrons warned at the time, be wary of messages offering sensational videos or unusual stories as, in 99 percent of cases, they are designed to compromise user security.


Spotlight

Is it time to professionalize information security?
Posted on 23 May 2013. | The issue of whether or not information security professionals should be licensed to practice has already been the topic of many a passionate debate.

Review: Logging and Log Management
Posted on 22 May 2013. | Every security practitioner should be aware of the overwhelming advantages of logging and perusing logs for discovering system intrusions. But logging and log management comes with its own set of difficulties.

Experts highlight top data breach vulnerabilities
Posted on 22 May 2013. | Hidden vulnerabilities lie in everyday activities that can expose personal information and lead to data breach, including buying gas with a credit card or wearing a pacemaker.

A closer look at Mega cloud storage
Posted on 21 May 2013. | Once a novelty, nowadays many cloud storage services are fighting for their piece of the market in the virtual world. Mega offers 50GB of free space with great pricing on Pro accounts.

The CSO perspective on healthcare security and compliance
Posted on 20 May 2013. | Randall Gamby is the CSO of the Medicaid Information Service Center of New York. In this interview he discusses healthcare security and compliance challenges and offers a variety of tips.
By subscribing to our early morning news update, you will receive a daily digest of the latest security news published on Help Net Security.
With over 500 issues so far, reading our newsletter every Monday morning will keep you up-to-date with security risks out there.





