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200 Million Facebook Accounts Attacked!
Techtree News Staff, May 18, 2009 1124 hrs ISTNew phishing scam reported
When it comes to Facebook, security always seems to be a problem. This time, hackers have managed to steal passwords of 200 million users through phishing scam as reported by Reuters. Facebook spokesperson Barry Schnitt said the site was in the process of cleaning up damage from the attack and also blocking compromised accounts.
Looks like Koobface and Dancing girl, weren't enough to teach Security lessons to Facebook.
Targeted Facebook users were sent an email message that asked them to click over links to fake websites - www.151.im, www.121.im and www.123.im that had fake domains. On clicking on any of these sites, a Facebook-like login page would appear. Apparently, the phishing attack becomes success when user enters login credentials into that fake Facebook login page. Facebook in turn deleted all references to these domains.
According to Schnitt, Facebook's security team believes that hackers intended to attack large number of accounts which later would be used for spamming about pharmaceutical products.
Debbie Frost, Director, Global Communications and Public Affairs at Facebook, pointed out that "the issue is not widespread and only impacting a small fraction of a percent of users. We re not releasing specific numbers because we don t want the bad guys to know what we ve detected (they'd find that information (they'd find that information useful and enable them to make their next attack more effective.)"
Facebook users are requested not to open any suspicious emails from unknown Facebook accounts asking you to visit any social networking site.
Looks like Koobface and Dancing girl, weren't enough to teach Security lessons to Facebook.
Targeted Facebook users were sent an email message that asked them to click over links to fake websites - www.151.im, www.121.im and www.123.im that had fake domains. On clicking on any of these sites, a Facebook-like login page would appear. Apparently, the phishing attack becomes success when user enters login credentials into that fake Facebook login page. Facebook in turn deleted all references to these domains.
According to Schnitt, Facebook's security team believes that hackers intended to attack large number of accounts which later would be used for spamming about pharmaceutical products.
Debbie Frost, Director, Global Communications and Public Affairs at Facebook, pointed out that "the issue is not widespread and only impacting a small fraction of a percent of users. We re not releasing specific numbers because we don t want the bad guys to know what we ve detected (they'd find that information (they'd find that information useful and enable them to make their next attack more effective.)"
Facebook users are requested not to open any suspicious emails from unknown Facebook accounts asking you to visit any social networking site.
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(14) Comments
emrah
,türkiye, on Dec 19, 2009 06:23 PM
Report abuse
SPOD
,London, on May 24, 2009 10:42 PM
Mr Godwin Mensa
,accra, on May 24, 2009 01:08 AM
Debbie Frost
,Palo Alto, on May 19, 2009 12:08 AM
Carol Diefendor
,Farmington, IL, on May 22, 2009 07:49 AM
terry fleming
,east victoria park, on May 22, 2009 03:31 PM
facebook user
,philly, on May 21, 2009 09:25 PM
Alexia
,Rocklin Ca, on May 21, 2009 09:18 PM
Kris
,Columbus, on May 19, 2009 12:43 AM
Andy Jones
,Manchester, on May 18, 2009 07:07 PM
mashele L.S
,thohoyandou, on May 18, 2009 01:20 PM
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