Worm steals 45,000 Facebook login credentials, infects victims' friends

45k sounds massive. But in perspective I think that's like 0.1% of Facebook users?

 

I would not be happy either The MSRC details | ESET users have protection

 

45000 will be far less than that...

 

Wow... that's a lot of compromised accounts :/

 

Thanks.
Took the opportunity to change my password there...

 

Yet another reason (as if I needed another one) I have never nor will I ever have Facebook.

 

Neither will I. They call it a private life for a reason.

 

Same here I feel no need for such a thing!

TH

 

I don't believe the original intention of this post was to discredit Facebook.

 

No, but the fact is using such services opens you up to problems like this. If I'm a criminal looking for information on my target or data in general, Facebook will be one of the first if not the first stops I make.

 

That is, in as far as today's open society is concerned, a basic truism.

Faithfully,
-k0nsl

 

Facewhat?

 

Ditto to the never did or ever will use facebook.

 

And probably will be easy to get what you are looking for,if you where a criminal.

 

Extremely easy.

 

I agree. I have often expressed a similar opinion to people I know, including work colleagues, family & the like, only to be told that I'm just being paranoid.

I have nothing against Facebook per se, although I personally wouldn't use it, but I think many people are quite ignorant of the dangers inherent in using social networking sites.

 

They cant say you didn't warn them of course will they admit you where right to begin with when it happens to them.

 

Part virus, part botnet, spreading fast: Ramnit moves past Facebook passwords

Article

 

Same here.

 

There's a lot of blame placed on Facebook here, and I'm one of those who doesn't use it either, for reasons other than it being an exploit target, but in reading the following about the worm:

-http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Threat/Encyclopedia/Entry.aspx?Name=Win32/Ramnit

...it seems Facebook is not really at fault here. Rather, it's the user at fault for allowing the worm to install in the first place, and not taking pre-emptive steps to stop it or mitigate its effects, such as:

• Enable a firewall on your computer.
  
• Get the latest computer updates for all your installed software.
  
• Use up-to-date antivirus software.
  
• Limit user privileges on the computer. Incredible! I rarely ever see this sound recommendation made by anyone
  
• Use caution when opening attachments and accepting file transfers.
  
• Use caution when clicking on links to web pages.
  
• Avoid downloading pirated software.
  
• Protect yourself against social engineering attacks.
  
• Use strong passwords.
  
• Enable a firewall on your computer

There's so much at one's disposal in taking easily applied, proactive steps to stopping something like this dead in its tracks, and avoiding Facebook isn't one of them.

 

wat0114, you are suffering from "logical-itis," which is defined as "the tendency to remain logical and analytical in the midst of overwhelming sensational reportage."

It's a very rare malady indeed and affects just a small percentage of people, so you are definitely in the minority here. The last time I checked, there is no known cure. My congratulations!

_________________________________________________________________________​

By the way, the Microsoft encyclopedia entry you quote is one of the best I've seen from them, and I agree with your characterization as incredible.

As siljaline has pointed out, the intention of the original post/article was not to blame Facebook. But one comment about the arstechnica.com article which includes in its title, ...infects victims' friends:

In the first paragraph of the article is the statement that one of the worm's goals is "transmitting malicious links to victims' friends". Big difference.

So, there is no infection unless the Facebook user chooses to follow this unsolicited link, putting this "exploit" in the same category as any similar trick, on Facebook or otherwise.

Earlier last year, I became acquainted with a small group of Facebook users in a little community up in the California Sierras. It's one of their social pasttimes. I learned that there are many safeguards in setting up a group, and that user awareness is no different for Facebook users than for any other computer users -- Google account/mail users, for example: you have to learn the particular policies and how to lock access to your "wall" and other such stuff. I learned that one rule they follow diligently is never to respond to anything unsolicited. Not bad advice!

----
rich


REFERENCES

Dammit Ramnit! Worm slurps 45,000 Facebook passwords
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01/05/ramnit_social_networking/

Facebook worm compromises up to 45,000 accounts
http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation...cebook-worm-compromises-up-to-45-000-accounts

Ramnit Worm Stealing Facebook Account Passwords, E-mail Address & Bank Details
http://www.darknet.org.uk/

Watch your wall: New Facebook attack has stolen passwords from 45,000 users - and could be spreading through infected links
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...amnit-worm-stolen-passwords-45-000-users.html

Facebook Ramnit Worm Virus Mostly Attacked Inactive Accounts in France & England
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/facebook_ramnit_worm_virus_attacked_inactive_accou.php

 

LOL! Your influence is to blame Thanks!

Indeed, I was happy to finally see it as a recommenation..