Fake Virus Alert Spreads Massively Across Facebook, Reports PandaLabs

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- PandaLabs, Panda Security's malware analysis and detection laboratory, has detected the massive propagation of a fake virus alert among Facebook users in the last 24 hours. According to the company, this is another attempt by cybercriminals to infect users with fake antivirus programs.

The fake warning is being distributed via email and users are forwarding it or publishing it on Facebook walls, further spreading the hoax. The text of the fake warning reads as follows:

ALERT >>>>> Has your facebook been running slow lately? Go to "Settings" and select "application settings", change the dropdown box to "added to profile". If you see one in there called "un named app" delete it… Its an internal spybot. Pass it on. about a minute ago….i checked and it was on mine.

There is no associated link, but if users search the Web for more information, they will encounter numerous malicious websites designed to download fake antiviruses. For examples of what these look like, please visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/panda_security/4309557914/.

The fake antivirus (or rogueware) used in this fake virus alert is called LivePcCare. Following are additional screenshots that demonstrate what these warnings look like:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/panda_security/4308821513/  and http://www.flickr.com/photos/panda_security/4309558036/.

PandaLabs advises users against contributing to the propagation of this fake virus warning. In addition, consumers are urged to ensure their computers have the latest protection technologies and run frequent on-demand scans of their computers. More information can be found at the PandaLabs blog at: www.pandalabs.com.

About PandaLabs

Since 1990, its mission has been to detect and eliminate new threats as rapidly as possible to offer our clients maximum security. To do so, PandaLabs has an innovative automated system that analyzes and classifies thousands of new samples a day and returns automatic verdicts (malware or goodware). This system is the basis of collective intelligence, Panda Security's new security model which can even detect malware that has evaded other security solutions.

Currently, 99.4 percent of malware detected by PandaLabs is analyzed through this system of collective intelligence. This is complemented through the work of several teams, each specialized in a specific type of malware (viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, phishing, spam, etc), who work 24/7 to provide global coverage. This translates into more secure, simpler and more resource-friendly solutions for clients.

More information is available in the PandaLabs blog: http://www.pandalabs.com.

SOURCE Panda Security