Social Networks: Malicious URLs
- BitDefender explains that Twitter users, just like Facebook users, are now victim of a proliferation of malicious links.
- Similar modus operandi were also noted, which seems to indicate that fraudster are not necessarily creative and take advantage of tried and tested methods.
- These platforms are especially popular which explains why they are targeted by fraudsters seeking financial gain. The March/April security review MISC includes an article (by Nicolas Brulez, Kaspersky Lab) on fake antivirus spreading on Twitter where it is reminded that Twitter now counts almost 200 million users and carries more than 110 million tweets every day. Several compromised Twitter accounts are now used to spread these malicious links:
"On this website, the limited number of characters (140) leads an
increasing number of users to refer to shortened Internet addresses,
mostly used by social networks; they are unaware that malicious links
can be concealed in these addresses" [we translate]
- These facts are especially disquieting as Facebook now creates its Facebook Payments subsidiary and may intend to enrich its e-payment offer and be interested in establishing links with large international networks such as Visa and MasterCard.
See “Social Payment: Facebook Looking for a Director For Facebook Payment Inc Subsidiary”
- These facts are also mentioned in 2010 Symantec study on cyber-attacks, US specialist in security, focussing on the evolving targets: social networks (posting links to infected websites) and mobile phones: 42% more attacks (legitimate existing applications infected by malicious software) and less attention is paid to spams. These indications are all the more disquieting as NFC technologies and mobile payment applications are currently being developed.
See: “Mobile Security: Fake Security Updates for Android”