Koobface: 1, CEO: 0
10-Dec-08
Got an email this morning with info on a “virus” that has been being propogated via Facebook. Koobface. What a name for a virus. Usually, I make a mental note of these things so I can avoid them, but for some strange reason I decided to read the whole email and encountered this gem:
Richard Larmer, chief executive of RLM Public Relations in New York, said he threw out his PC after it became infected by Koobface, which downloaded malicious software onto his PC. “It was really bad. It destroyed my computer,” he said.
I don’t mean to be disparaging of people who do not understand how computers work, but seriously…he threw out his PC? Wtf?!?
Koobface spreads by sending notes to friends of someone whose PC has been infected. The messages, with subject headers like, “You look just awesome in this new movie,” direct recipients to a website where they are asked to download what it claims is an update of Adobe Systems Inc’s Flash player.
If they download the software, users end up with an infected computer, which then takes users to contaminated sites when they try to use search engines from Google, Yahoo, MSN and Live.com, according McAfee.
Hmmm. Honey, I’m seeing contaminated sites. Guess I’ll chuck this puppy in the trash and get a new one. Considering the economy is doing so well, I can afford this.
Somebody needs to get this guy a capable IT staff…
More over @ reuters.com.
Hat tip to the guy or girl who decided to spam the entire building with this breaking news.
