Computer Security Articles

• Eminem was NOT Stabbed
  Message circulating via social media claims that rapper Eminem has been stabbed four times and urges recipients to click a link to view a video of the stabbing.
  
  
• Facebook Like-Farming Scams
  An increasing number of bogus Pages appearing on Facebook are designed to do nothing more than artificially increase their popularity by tricking users into "liking" them. This tactic has come to be known as "like-farming". The goal of these unscrupulous like-farmers is to increase the value of Facebook Pages so that they can be sold on the black market to other scammers and/or used to market dubious products and services and distribute further scams.
  
  
• ANZ 'Quick 3-Question Survey' Phishing Scam
  Email purporting to be from ANZ claims that recipients can have $35 credited to their accounts just for opening an attached file and filling in a brief survey.
  
  
• 'Facebook Online International Lottery' Advance Fee Scam
  Email purporting to be from Facebook claims that the recipient has won $950,000 in the annual Facebook Online International Lottery and should contact the Facebook "disbursement department" to claim the prize.
  
  
• Citibank Paymentech Billing Statement Malware Emails
  Email purporting to be from Citibank Paymentech invites recipients to open an attached file to view a Merchant Billing Statement.
  
  
• 'Wire Transfer Canceled' Malware Email
  Email purporting to be from the US Federal Reserve claims that a wire transfer sent from the recipient's bank account was not processed and that details about the transfer can be viewed in an attached file.
  
  
• BMW Advance Fee Prize Scam
  Email purporting to be from car maker BMW claims that the recipient has won 450,000 pounds and a BMW in an "international promotion program" run by the company.
  
  
• Facebook Profile Viewer Scam
  Message being spammed across Facebook claims that users can follow a link to install an app that allows them to check who has been viewing their profile.
  
  
• Facebook 'Account May Not Be Authentic' Phishing Scam
  Message purporting to be from Facebook claims that the recipient's Facebook account is to be blocked because the account may not be authentic. The recipient is instructed to click a link to reconfirm the account within 24 hours and is warned that failing to reconfirm will result in permanent removal of the account.
  
  
• Craigslist Overpayment Scam Warning Message
  Message circulating on Facebook describes a Craigslist user's experience with an an overpayment scam and warns other users to watch out for such criminal tactics.
  
  
• Fake Cover-More Insurance Emails Carry Malware
  Email purporting to be a policy purchase notification from Australian travel insurance provider Cover-More urges recipients to open an attached .zip file to view a Certificate of Insurance.
  
  
• NatWest 'Inadequate Security Enrollment' Phishing Scam
  Email purporting to be from UK bank NatWest, claims that the recipient's online banking has been disabled due to "Inadequate security enrollment" or a login error. The recipient is instructed to click a link to login to reactive the account.
  
  
• 'Warning Code: 11XXTT8765' Email Phishing Scam
  Email purporting to be from the "Admin Team" claims that, due to a scheduled maintenance and upgrade, users must reply with their email password or their email account will be terminated.
  
  
• 'Your PayPal Account Was Deleted' Phishing Scam
  Email purporting to be from PayPal claims that the recipient's PayPal account has been deleted and he or she must click a "Recover Account" link to get the account back.
  
  
• Child Porn Ransomware Warning
  Circulating message warns users about a type of virus that locks files on the infected computer and threatens to inform the police that the victim has been downloading child porn if he or she does not pay a fee to have incriminating files removed.
  
  
• ACH Processing Service Malware Email
  Message purporting to be from the Automated Clearing House (ACH) claims that a file submitted by a user has been successfully processed and invites recipients to click a link to read more information about the large sum transactions listed.
  
  
• Beware - 'Unsealed' Product Giveaways on Facebook
  AVarious Pages on Facebook claim to be giving away expensive products such as iPads, smart phones and beauty products because they are unsealed and therefore cannot be sold. Participants are instructed to "like" the Page and share a photo to earn a chance to receive one of the free products.
  
  
• Fake CNN Emails About Pope Point to Malware
  Emails purporting to be CNN notifications suggest that recipients click a link to read CNN.com articles relating to the pope.
  
  
• 'Confidential Document' Google Docs Phishing Scam
  Email asks the recipient to click a link to view an important confidential document in Google Docs.v
  
  
• AOL Password Phishing Scam - 'TJ2117 Virus Detected'
  Email purporting to be from AOL claims that a TJ2117 virus has been detected in the recipient's computer folders and he or she must click a link to login and switch to a secure anti virus system.
  
  
• Westpac '3 Incorrect Logins' Phishing Scam
  Email purporting to be from Australian bank Westpac, claims that the recipient's account has been limited due to three incorrect login attempts and he or she should fill in and submit an attached form within 24 hours, or the account may be suspended.
  
  
• Survey Scam - 'Malfunctioning Online Store Giving Free iPads'
  Message distributed on Facebook claims that an online store is malfunctioning because they forgot to include a payment page and customers are therefore receiving free iPads as a result.Y
  
  
• Xbox 720 Bogus Facebook Giveaway
  Message being distributed on Facebook claims that users can have the chance to win an Xbox 720 by liking and sharing a promotional image and liking an associated Facebook Page.
  
  
• Free PlayStation 4 For Testers Survey Scam
  Messages being distributed on Facebook claim that Sony is looking for people to test the new PlayStation 4 and that they will get to keep the test PlayStation so long as they like a Facebook Page and share the post.
  
  
• Facebook Page 'Violation of Terms' Phishing Scam
  Inbox message purporting to be from "Mark Zurckerberg" claims that the user's Facebook Page has violated the Facebook Terms of Service and may be permanently deleted unless the account is verified by clicking a link in the message.
  
  
• Rihanna 'S3X' Tape Survey Scam Messages Hit Facebook
  Messages spreading via Facebook comments promise clickers salacious footage of popular singing star Rihanna and her boyfriend.
  
  
• BT Yahoo 'Final Warning' Phishing Scam
  Message purporting to be a "Final Warning" from BT Yahoo claims that users must immediately click a link to verify their account before they can receive pending emails.
  
  
• Facebook Team Security 2013 Phishing Scam - 'Last Warning - Your Account Will Be Disabled'
  Message purporting to be a "last warning" from Facebook Security 2013 claims that recipients must click a link and re-confirm their account within 24 hours or their Facebook account will be deleted.
  
  
• O2 Shop 'View Bill Online' Phishing Scam
  Email purporting to be from UK based service provider O2, claims that recipients can open an attached file to view their bill online.
  
  
• 'Facebook Technical Support' Pharmacy Spam
  Email purporting to be a notification from Facebook Technical Support claims that the recipient has a message awaiting a response and he or she should click a "Go to Facebook" button to read the message.br />
  
• Taylor Swift 'Sex Tape Leaked' Facebook Scam
  Message on Facebook claims that popular US singer Taylor Swift's iPhone has been hacked and that recipients can click a link to view a sex tape taken from the phone and leaked on the Internet.
  
  
• Free Disneyland Tickets Survey Scam
  Various Facebook messages claim that users can receive free tickets to Disneyland by liking and sharing a picture and participating in online surveys.
  
  
• Bogus Telstra 'Email Bill' Carries Malware
  Email purporting to be a bill notification from Australian telecommunications company Telstra urges recipients to open an attached file to deal with an overdue account.
  
  
• Criminals Use Names of Lottery Winners Adrian and Gillian Bayford in Advance Fee Scams
  Emails purporting to be from UK EuroMillions winners Adrian and Gillian Bayford claim that the the recipient's email address was selected as a winner of a cash grant of one million pounds.
  
  
• Westpac 'Credit Card Suspended' Phishing Scam
  Email purporting to be from large Australian bank Westpac claims that there was an error detected in the recipient's credit card account and asks him or her to click a link to update account information or risk permanent suspension of the card.