MySpace Adverts Infect Millions With Spyware
22 Jul, 2006, 1:00 pm IST | by
Priyanka Pradhan
| 
| The controversial social networking site, MySpace is in the news again, as more than a million Myspace users have fallen victim to malicious software that installs spyware via a Windows bug. The spyware spreads to the PC through a pop up advertisement, when browsing the site on Internet Explorer versions which have not been patched against the Windows MetaFile (WMF) bug. Reports say that the malicious advertisements have been running on MySpace since last week. iDefense, which discovered the spyware on the site says the code hidden in the advert exploits the WMF bug which preys on a weakness in the way Windows handles images. The advert installs programs that line up pop ups for the users and watches what they do online. Experts say that the high level of customization of sites like MySpace and Orkut attracts too many people and hence cause security problems. Moreover, malware research at Facetime Security Labs, has found various MySpace related security problems in the past, like fake MySpace toolbars that install adware, video clips that install programs that bombard users with adverts, and a spurious flash program. Myspace is being accused of encouraging these breeches and is in danger of being forced to shut down as pressure from legislators and computer security firms builds up against it. |
Tags: MySpace , Windows MetaFile (WMF) bug , iDefense , Orkut , Facetime Security Labs , spyware , adware
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