Facebook users who attempted to be proactive after learning of what was thought to be recent identity theft information about a malware attack may have actually gotten themselves into trouble that could have been easily avoided if they had simply done nothing.
According to PandaLabs, the malware analysis and detection laboratory run by Panda Security, a fake virus designed to prompt users into downloading malware programs posing as security software has been making its rounds on Facebook during the last week.
The online identity theft scam begins with either an email or a wall post claiming to be from Facebook that contains no links or data other than suggestions on how to disable an alleged spybot that can affect how quickly Facebook can run.
According to PandaLabs, the fake warning being distributed to Facebook users is as follows: "ALERT >>>>> Has your facebook been running slow lately? Go to 'Settings' and select âapplication settings', change the dropdown box to 'added to profile'. If you see one in there called 'un named app' delete it⦠Its an internal spybot. Pass it on. about a minute agoâ¦.i checked and it was on mine."
While no link is given in the message, for identity thieves to fool users of the Facebook website into downloading a virus, users who took to the internet in search of more information on the supposed online identity theft threat were instead targeted.
When issuing a web search, a number of seemingly unrelated websites that offered help on removing the internal spybot were actually websites concocted by the identity thieves to store malware that is automatically installed when the site is visited.
According to PandaLabs, the malware - which is deceptively named LivePcCare - installs fake virus alerts on one's computer.
In order to minimize the spread of the virus, recent identity theft information from PandaLabs advised to ignore any messages from websites that seem as if they could be fake, and to regularly run virus scans to ensure one's system is clean.
