IT security and control firm Sophos is reminding all Twitter
users of the importance of ensuring their computer security is up
to date following news that internet celebrity, Guy Kawasaki's
Twitter account has been used to spread malware that targets both
Windows and Mac users.
Hackers posted a message on Kawasaki's Twitter page including a
link which claimed to offer a free sex video of Leighton Meester,
star of hit TV show 'Gossip Girl'. Actually clicking on the link
takes users to a series of websites which offer to show a tape of
the young Hollywood actress. However, Sophos notes that once users
agree to download the video, the webpage will not show the video
but will check if you are visiting the site using an Apple Mac or a
Windows computer and serve up the relevant piece of malware.
"The fact that this tweet claimed to come from Guy Kawasaki is
worrying since he has almost 140,000 followers, and therefore
potential victims," explained Graham
Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, on his
blog. "By offering the chance to watch a free Leighton Meester
sex video, the hackers have probably succeeded in tricking some
people into downloading their malware. What's more, many Mac users
are still not running anti-malware, and thinking themselves immune
to cybercrime, they might have seen no harm in clicking on the link
just to see what happened."
Sophos notes that this is the second time this month that
hackers have targeted Mac users with the lure of X-rated videos,
and advises all computer users to exercise caution when clicking on
links on social networking sites like Twitter.
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.