Cloud Communications

Need-to-Know Info Before Sending Your Next Tweet or Sharing on Pinterest

By Madhubanti Rudra TMCnet Contributor

Do you have a Twitter (News - Alert) or Pinterest account? Then listen up.

It seems everyone today uses connected devices. Beware though, as with the rise of use comes the rise of cybercrime, which requires users’ constant vigilance just to keep their personal devices and sensitive information safe from cybercriminals. In light of this, GFI Software, an esteemed provider of Web and e-mail security, archiving and fax, networking and security software and hosted IT solutions, released its Vipre Report for September 2012 that reveals the most prevalent threat detection scenarios for individuals to be aware of.

In a news statement, GFI stated that the report contains the documentation of a number of cybercrime campaigns directed at users of various social networking sites, including direct message spam on Twitter and a phony Pinterest application.

The report revealed that users of Android (News - Alert) smartphones and tablets are also being targeted by mobile malware attacks under the guise of Grand Theft Auto and lingering Olympics 2012 applications.

“With the emergence of smartphones and widespread access to the Internet, today's consumers have an ever-growing demand for constant, reliable connectivity at all times,” explained a GFI Senior Threat Researcher. “However, constant connectivity to social networks, websites and e-mail goes hand-in-hand with constant threats of malware, spam and phishing attacks. The convenience of being connected 24 hours a day requires constant vigilance if the user wants to keep their personal devices and sensitive information safe from cybercriminals.”

The September Vipre report shows how the cyber criminals resorted to various tactics to launch attacks on those using popular social networking sites, which is a very great majority of the population.

Many Twitter users must have encountered this problem, where direct messages link them to a phony login page for the Twitter Video application on Facebook (News - Alert). Users who entered their Twitter account credentials had their own accounts hijacked for direct message spam campaigns and were then directed to download an Umbra Loader Botnet  building tool disguised as a Flash Player update.

Pinterest users were unfortunately not spared, either. Those looking for a way to view full-sized images without having to click through to individual pages were also targeted with the fake Pin Photo Zoom application, which inevitably infected their system with adware.

There was a lot of hype over news concerning Android users who last month downloaded malicious programs including a fake “Results for the Olympics” application that sent text messages from the victim's phone.

Mobile gamers were also targeted with a phony Android version of the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, containing a Boxer Trojan disguised as a Flash Player.

So if you’re hovering your arrow over the “tweet” button or are getting ready to “pin” your next favorite image or video, keep this vital information in mind.

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