Porn-Based Malware Attacks Facebook, Thousands Already Affected

A new malware is lurking around Facebook's News Feed feature. This time it takes the form of malicious porn links that could easily entice users.

Based on Gizmodo’s report last Jan. 31, the malware has already infected over 110,000 users in just a span of two days. The report pertains to the current problem as a "Click Transmitted Disease."

According to the blog post by security researcher Mohammad Faghani, they call the malware as “Magnet.” The new malware that hit Facebook is camouflaged as a Flash update. The link disguises as an adult or porn video from YouTube or other reliable websites. In a nutshell, the fake flash player serves as the downloader of the actual malware.

Once the user or his friends get to click on the link, they will be a routed to a YouTube-like website and will be able to view the video for a few seconds. Then right after, they will be asked to download the Flash update, which for unsuspecting users would have no idea that they have already let the Trojan enter their computer system.

The malware would initially target the users keyboard and mouse. Then the virus would also start posting porn links to the user’s Facebook wall and is capable of tagging a maximum of 20 friends each posting.

The report also describes the malware’s activity as very low profile, making it merely suspicious despite its pornographic content. Apparently, this is the strategy of the alleged malware enabling it to deceive so many users in a short span of time.

Threatpost had a chance to talk to a spokesperson from Facebook about the malware incident. According to the source, the social media giant uses automated systems to diagnose potential threats and stopping it at the onset before the said threats even spread. The spokesperson adds that they already have a system that would block the links to certain scams and even offers cleanup options. The company also reassures its millions of users that it is working on other means to give them worry-free experience while staying on the site.

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