BitDefender warns Facebook users to be wary of apps that promise Google+ invitations <\/p>\n
SYDNEY & AUCKLAND – July 13, 2011 – A new Facebook scam exploiting the interest around Google+ has spread rapidly across the social network, having gathered approximately 3,300 fans or \u2018likes\u2019 within 24 hours. According to BitDefender, a an award-winning provider of innovative Internet security solutions, the fake app – \u2018Google Plus Direct Access\u2019 – requires Facebook users to \u2018like\u2019 the page in order to progress to a download page. Of course, there is no actual link to Google+ and no chance of receiving one of the coveted invitations.<\/p>\n
The fake app is helped by a spreading mechanism which prompts users to invite 50 friends, with the invites also ending up on your Facebook newsfeed for all to see. <\/p>\n
Whilst relatively harmless now, BitDefender anticipates there is a possibility for the app\u2019s creators to attempt phishing attacks on its rapidly growing fanbase by taking advantage of the personal information that it has access to from users having \u2018liked\u2019 the page. <\/p>\n
Catalin Cosoi, head of BitDefender\u2019s Online Threats Lab, commented: \u201cThis scam highlights the increasing propensity for cybercriminals to \u2018trendjack\u2019 the latest news in order to exploit people\u2019s natural curiosity. From the high number of fans that \u2018Google Plus Direct Access\u2019 has gathered in just 24 hours, it seems that this particular example has been successful in achieving its purpose of misleading people into believing there is a Google+ invite waiting for them at the other end.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBy \u2018liking\u2019 the page, users have inadvertently shared their profile information and contact details with the app\u2019s creators. We have not seen any malicious threats appearing from this app yet, but the inherent risk is certainly something to consider before \u2018liking\u2019 or \u2018fanning\u2019 a Facebook page.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough our own Safego free security app for Facebook, we recently found that nearly 25% of users had some form of malicious content posted on their wall by a friend. Users need to take real care when using any social network and be wary not to get drawn into something that more often than not is too good to be true.\u201d<\/p>\n
BitDefender has recently found that of 73,000 BitDefender Safego Beta users worldwide, nearly 25 percent (24.6) have had at least one Facebook friend spread malicious content to others. Facebook users should be wary of an increasing number of scams appearing on the social network and be mindful of the old mantra: if something seems too good to be true, it usually is. <\/p>\n
All product and company names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and are the property of, and may be trademarks of, their respective owners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BitDefender warns Facebook users to be wary of apps that promise Google+ invitations SYDNEY & AUCKLAND – July 13, 2011 – A new Facebook scam exploiting the interest around Google+ has spread rapidly across the social network, having gathered approximately 3,300 fans or \u2018likes\u2019 within 24 hours. According to BitDefender, a an award-winning provider of<\/p>\n