10-12-2008, 09:53 PM
| #1 |
| Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dayton, Ohio
Posts: 2
|  Legitimate Virus Warning Fake YouTube pages used to spread viruses Associated Press/AP Online By JORDAN ROBERTSON SAN FRANCISCO - Savvy Internet users know that downloading unsolicited computer programs is one of the most dangerous things you can do online. It puts you at great risk for a virus or another time bomb from a hacker. But even some sophisticated surfers could get taken in by a sneaky new attack in which criminals create fake YouTube pages - dead-on replicas of the real site - to push their malicious software and make it look like it's safe stuff coming from a trusted source. A program circulating online helps hackers build those fake pages. Users who follow an e-mail pointing them to one of the pages would see an error message that claims the video they want won't play without installing new software first. That error message includes a link the hacker has provided to a malicious program, which delivers a virus. Even worse: once the computer is infected, it's simple for the hacker to silently redirect the victims to a real YouTube page to see videos they were hoping to see - and hide the crime. "It's spot-on accurate, and that is scary," said Jamz Yaneza, threat research manager for security software company Trend Micro Inc. "If I were watching YouTube videos all day I would probably click on this one." The tactic itself isn't new: There's a constant push by criminals to build more convincing spoofs of legitimate sites to trick people into downloading harmful software. And the latest attacks don't target any vulnerability in the YouTube site. But it highlights the fact that criminals are getting better at creating bogus sites and developing so-called "social engineering" methods to fool people. Fortunately, truly alert Internet users can still see the telltale warning signs with the fake YouTube pages. For one, the Web browser won't show the real YouTube's Internet address. And to even see the malicious page, you have to first follow a link that's sent to you, which is often a tip-off that you should independently verify whether the site is legitimate. . |
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10-13-2008, 10:11 AM
| #3 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: In HOT North East Texas Missing COLD South Central Alaska
Posts: 774
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I will have to watch out for that one. I get on Youtube ALOT.
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10-13-2008, 10:13 AM
| #4 |
| MY CAT RUDY ATE SANTA..!!   Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 3,577
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I don't mess with Youtube anyway.
__________________ "Most of the troubles in the world is caused by people wanting to be important". T.S.Eliot |
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10-13-2008, 12:33 PM
| #5 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,916
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My Linux machine notifies me when that happens and closes all ports dropping me off the net. Also if you get that "virus infection notice", DO NOT hit the X in the box to exit, it will trigger the virus. Go to FILE [upper left] and EXIT through there.
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10-13-2008, 12:39 PM
| #6 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Englewood, CO
Posts: 2,580
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I typically look at the bottom left of the Internet Explorer window while hovering my mouse over a link I am unfamiliar with. It tells you the page it links to. If it is something that doesn't look right, I don't go to it. But, usually I don't bother with forwarded email messages anyway, too much BS and possibility of infection. DELETE... (DONT CLICK THESE) If it is something like www.youtube.net, or www.youtubes.com or www.youstube.org or www.telcom.com/ebay/login (a means of acquiring your account login information) or some other crap...Avoid it like the plague
__________________ "Minimum wage, minimum effort." "Never underestimate the power of stupidity." ~Me |
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10-13-2008, 03:44 PM
| #7 |
| spiritual counselor   |
thank god for faronics deep freeze! i make a game of opening anything and everything that catches my eye. i cant get infected
__________________ "I would never die for my beliefs because what if I'm wrong?"- Bertrand Russell |
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10-17-2008, 02:42 AM
| #8 | |
| Senior Member   Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 6,257
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__________________ I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6! | |
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10-17-2008, 10:36 AM
| #9 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Englewood, CO
Posts: 2,580
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Kind of like...I'm not going to NOT use the stove because some doink might put their hand on the burner...
__________________ "Minimum wage, minimum effort." "Never underestimate the power of stupidity." ~Me | |
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