AVG Warns Adware Uses Subterfuge to Entice Facebook Members to Click
Melbourne, 18 May 2010. AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd today revealed research by AVG Technologies into a very aggressive, expansive push by rogue applications on Facebook this past weekend. AVG researchers indicated that from midnight to 9am EST on Saturday, 15 May 2010, AVG software detected and blocked more than 300,000 rogue applications. That rate was more than three times the rate of the number two for the day for rogue anti-spyware.
“This latest issue really underscores how powerful, while at the same time vulnerable, social networking applications are. This attack was actually stunning in terms of scale,” said Roger Thompson, AVG’s Chief Research Officer. “Facebook is very responsive to threats when we identify them, removing these applications as soon as they find them, but the rogue applications are still able to generate huge traffic, just because of the viral nature of social networks. It is staggering how many threats were propagated before they were stopped.”
Ironically, the attack, which offers a picture of a girl in a bikini to entice the victim to install an adware-supported viewer, was not viral according to AVG researchers, and was first seen in different forms last week. AVG’s system is set to alert the research team when certain nefarious behaviours and activities are detected. By 9 am EST, AVG’s servers had detected more than 200,000 of this particular threat. By comparison, the second highest detection at that same time was about 24,000 of a particular rogue anti-spy, so at one point, this push was nearly ten times the number two detection.
Last week’s rogue push peaked at about 80,000 for the day, and had dwindled to just a couple of hundred per day by Friday, May 14, 2010. At that point AVG researchers were hopeful that the adware attack would cease; however, all indications point to the fact that they were just gearing up for a fresh start… and a powerful one at that.
Thompson added, “Interestingly, they launched it on a Saturday. I guess they figure we don’t watch on the weekend, but malcode researchers are all cut from the same cloth as Inspector Gadget… we’re always on duty.”
Lloyd Borrett, Marketing Manager of AVG (AU/NZ), said: “We recognise the power that social networking brings to our professional and personal lives and we certainly don’t advocate giving up on the technology altogether. However, AVG does have some recommendations on how to best protect yourself.”
- Make sure you practice safe surfing. AVG LinkScanner® safe search and surf protection is a free web tool that can identify threats in real-time and let you know if a page or link is poisoned, before you click.
- If you ever have to install a viewer to watch a video, something is probably not right. Go to the video player application’s official website and download the application there. Never download through a link.
- Make sure your anti-virus and security software is up to date. If you don’t have anti-virus software, you can download AVG Anti-Virus Free. For greater protection, there is AVG Internet Security 9.0.
Borrett advised, “As with any online activity be smart, be aware, be careful, and you can stay as safe on Facebook as anywhere else online.”
For more AVG security tips, see http://www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/.
Also, the Australian Government website, Stay Smart Online, has some useful tips at http://www.staysmartonline.gov.au/smart-online/social-networking
About AVG Technologies www.avg.com
AVG is a global security software maker protecting more than 110 million consumers and small businesses in 170 countries from the ever-growing incidence of web threats, viruses, spam, cyber-scams and hackers on the Internet. AVG has nearly two decades of experience in combating cyber crime and one of the most advanced laboratories for detecting, pre-empting and combating Web-borne threats from around the world. Its free, downloadable software allows novice users to have basic anti-virus protection and then easily upgrade to greater levels of safety and defense when they are ready. AVG has nearly 6,000 resellers, partners and distributors globally including Amazon.com, CNET, Cisco, Ingram Micro, Play.com, Wal-Mart, and Yahoo!
About AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd — www.avg.com.au
Based in Melbourne, AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd distributes the AVG range of Anti-Virus and Internet Security products in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. AVG software solutions provide complete real-time protection against the malware, viruses, spam, spyware, adware, worms, Trojans, phishing and exploits used by cyber-criminals, hackers, scammers and identity thieves. AVG protects everything important and personal inside computers — documents, account details and passwords, music, photos and more — all while allowing users to work, bank, shop and play games online in safety. AVG provides outstanding technical solutions and exceptional value for consumers, small to medium business and enterprise clients. AVG delivers always-on, always up-to-date protection across desktop, and notebook PCs, plus file and e-mail servers in the home and at work in SMBs, corporations, government agencies and educational institutions.
AVG products actively protect over 110 million users worldwide, including more than 4.6 million users in Australia and New Zealand.
AVG (AU/NZ) has more than 3300 resellers across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.