29 Jan
2013
29 Jan
'13
10:58 a.m.
Sorry to have to do this but I can’t let the inaccurate subject line of the email, or the inaccurate
description of the link provided, misrepresent the news story, or be a source of misinformation.
The inaccuracy is in saying “Facebook can infect...” (original subject line)
and
“viruses and malware are now infecting pc's from Facebook” (description above the link to the story)
>From the story:
1) a hacker commandeered her Facebook account.
Using a common malware tactic, ( this line is irrelevant )
2) the hacker sent a message to all of her friends with a link to the site homeincomenow3.com,
operated by “Zhang Lei” in Beijing, China.
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My analysis:
a) Facebook didn’t infect anything. This is a fact.
b) Just receiving the message from the hacker, on ones Facebook message system,
is not enough to infect anyone. ... this is a fact.
c) Clicking on the link send by the hacker to go to the site homeincomenow3.com doesn’t guarantee
an infection, but it opens one to the possibility, *IF* that is what the site is designed to do.
------------------------------
>From the point of clicking on the link, ones chance of infection are relative, to the browser being used,
and the security programs being used on the PC doing the clicking, and if there is any malicious code
being ‘pushed’ by the site in question.
And the question as to whether there is any infection available at all, in this instance, is still not clear.
------------------------------
My attempt to become infected:
I just went to homeincomenow3.com and it *appears* to be a page at CNBC.com
See attached picture if you’re curious. It is totally safe to look at the screen capture.
The site obviously can see my IP address and custom load a page aimed at a Pgh. resident ... so ?
No big deal. This is how it’s done in many instances.
Is there an infection?
My security didn’t flag anything or grab any *critters* and toss them in the vault when the site loaded in my browser.
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Check for problems after:
I just did a full scan with AVG and MalwareBytes and I’m seemingly clean.
AVG did detect something ‘questionable’ in my temporary internet cache’ and asked,
and I told AVG to delete it.
... reboot and rescan with both, just to be sure ... Totally clean. Nothing found.
I was using the current version of Firefox to visit the site in question.
------------------------------
My Summary:
Facebook is as safe as using this email list, as far as I can see.
Any unknown site is a potential risk.
Good security and common sense are helpful.
Steve Karl
From: Jeff Dumm
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 4:32 PM
To: Highland Park BBS
Subject: [Highland Park] Warning. Facebook can infect your computer
Jeff here from Home PC Repairs. I just read an important article how viruses and malware are now infecting pc's from Facebook. Check it out:
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/01/28/is-facebook-infecting-your-computer-threats-on-social-network-on-rise-experts/
Home PC Repairs is here to meet all of your computer needs, not just the times I have to come to your home. If you need me, call my number or go to the web link below.
Jeff Dumm
42 722 5282
www.homepcrepairs.net.
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