Links to a nonexistent video entitled "Charlie Sheen Found Dead at Home" began proliferating on Facebook yesterday, prompting the circulation of warnings that the links contain a "virus."
Example #1:
VIRUS ALERT! Please neighbors re-post this as often as possible:: "Charlie Sheen found dead at home" Is a virus!! It is very believable so of course people are going to click on it and this is why we need to look after our neighbors and keep re-posting this to ensure that they see it.
Example #2:
VIRUS ALERT! Please neighbors re-post this as often as possible:: "charlie sheen found dead at home" Is a virus!! (This is a repost)
Charlie Sheen is not, in fact, dead. It's unclear whether or not the video links actually transmit a virus, but they're a security issue in any case according to Sophos.com blogger Graham Cluley, who says they comprise a "clickjacking" scam whereby users are tricked into landing on a bogus survey page which also causes the "RIP Charlie Sheen" posting to be replicated on their Wall.
If this has happened to you, delete the posting immediately so your friends don't click on it too. It would also prudent to update your antivirus software and run a full system scan in case your computer was exposed to malware.
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Read more about it:
• (SCAM ALERT) RIP Charlie Sheen Found Dead at His House!
• Charlie Sheen Has NOT Been Found Dead in His House
• Scam Warning: RIP! Developing Story Charlie Sheen Dies from Cardiac Arrest
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