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Parent-thwarting bypass tool takes kids to internet badlands
Myfatherisonline.com a doorway to survey scams and other nasties
Cybercrooks have developed a new ruse primarily designed to expose kids to malware and survey scams.
A fraudulent proxy server service that offers a supposed mechanism to bypass parental control (censorware) restrictions actually leads to an "affiliate site loaded with malcode, links to cellphone subscription scams and other malicious or seedy stuff," net security firm GFI Security warns.
The portal offering the service - myfatherisonline.com - touts independence for kids via a supposed VPN service while actually leading onto links designed to expose users to adware, complete time-wasting surveys or sign-ups for expensive premium rate subscription services of dubious utility. For example searching for "Pac-Man" games via the site generates a pop-up offering the MyWebSearch adware alongside links to a retro-gamers site. Other ads in the site's catalogue include inducements to get horoscopes via mobile, at a cost of $9.99 per month.
Links touting the service have appeared on Facebook, probably via compromised accounts. Further spam running both inside the social network and via the site might be expected.
A full-write up of the scam - together with screenshots - can be found in a blog post by GFI Software here. ®
Biting the hand that feeds IT
