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Video smutware attack returns to Facebook

Of course I'm too security-conscious to fall for ooh look bewbs

Facebook users were hit for the second time in only a week by a video-themed malware attack last weekend.

The latest assault involved the posting of a fake video to profiles entitled "distracting beach babes" that appeared under the guise of a post by one of a targeted user's friends on the social networking site. The messages came together with a picture of a movie thumbnail featuring a woman in a bikini.

This thumbnail linked to a bogus Facebook application touting adware disguised as a supposed video codec needed to play non-existent grumble flick material. The bogus application, if successfully installed, posts the same lure to contacts of an infected mark, restarting the exploit cycle.

The scam is very similar to a similar ruse that began spreading on Saturday 15 May, involving a fake movie clip billing itself as the "sexiest video ever" but actually offering only pop-up adware misery.

More details on the twin attacks, including screenshots of the latest assault, can be found in a blog post by Websense here. Websense notes that 99 difference strains of malicious application were touted during the two successive weekend attacks against Facebook users.

Sophos is calling on Facebook to set up an early warning system alerting users on the spread of such attacks in future.

Users who fell for the ruse are advised to change their Facebook password and review what applications have been installed, as well as scanning their system for malware. ®

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