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If your kids regularly visit the social networking sites Facebook and Myspace, tell them to be careful about what links they click. There is a computer virus known as the koobface worm and it is targeted specifically at Facebook and Myspace users. According to a recent New York Times article on social networking diseases, the koobface worm has been around since August 2008 but it has recently come to light as different versions of the virus, affecting only Facebook users, have been discovered.

The most common method used by hackers to spread this virus, is hacking into a Facebook or Myspace account and posting links or linked videos to everyone on the hacked account's friends list. Thinking the link or video was sent by a friend, the unsuspecting recipients click on it and are prompted to update software, such as flash, in order to view it. This bogus update is in fact the koobface worm in disguise. Hackers may also send links through inbox messages and are constantly finding new ways to spread this malicious program.

Once the koobface worm is downloaded, it will immediately begin installing malicious code onto the computer and after it's done, it will display an image of a court jester sticking his tongue out, reports PCWorld.com. Other signs that your computer may be infected include constantly being redirected to other sites and spam being posted from your Facebook or Myspace account. If you think you may have downloaded this virus, run a virus scan on your computer and change your Facebook or Myspace passwords immediately.

As Facebook and Myspace users become increasingly aware of the koobface worm, it is expected that they will be more cautious when receiving a linked message and will therefore avoid downloading it. In fact, according to Mcafee, a computer security company, the new variant of the koobface worm has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention. However, keep in mind that regardless of how much information is put out there, hackers are always changing and perfecting their malicious code to elude security programs.

Vigilance is key. If you receive a message from a friend on Facebook or Myspace and upon clicking it, you are taken to a strange or unrelated website, don't click anything and navigate away from that page immediately. If you receive a message about updating your system, go to the site where the update would be found and download it from there. For example, you would visit adobe.com for a flash update. This ensures that you are not downloading a disguised virus. Also, adjust your pop up blocker settings and run regular virus scans on your computer.

For more Facebook security tips, visit: http://www.facebook.com/securi ty

For further information, please vist:

1 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12 /11/technology/personaltech/11 askk-003.html

2 http://www.pcworld.com/busines scenter/article/149559/malicio us_hackers_use_facebook_wall_f or_malware_attack.html

3 http://vil.nai.com/vil/content /v_148955.htm

Learn more about this author, Rebecca Vargas.
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