This is to confirm that email alerts warning of malware attacks on Facebook users via the network's internal message service are true. The attacks are particularly insidious because the potentially harmful messages appear to come from friends.
The culprit is an Internet worm known as Koobface (get it?). The main thing you need to know to protect yourself from Koobface is this: The worm is unleashed by clicking on a link in a Facebook message -- usually something on the order of "You look funny in this new video," "My friend catched you on hidden cam," or "Secret Video by Tom," etc. -- which causes a fake dialog box to appear instructing the user to download the latest version of Flash Player. If the user complies, a Trojan horse virus is downloaded to their computer.
Don't click on questionable-seeming links.
Facebook advises members who believe they've inadvertently downloaded the malware to run a virus scan and reset their passwords.
Read more: Destructive Koobface Virus Turns up on Facebook
See also: How to Avoid Koobface and Other Social Networking Worms
Comments
Thanks for posting your confirmation, David. I came directly to your site after a friend on FB posted a similar warning. I’m VERY glad to have read it because I got my first virus message this morning allegedly from a know FB friend:
Subject: Cool nice movie with you. Superstar
“LOL
I copied the link from Mailwasher, but will let MW take care of the actual email.
FrannyCats