Security news24 August 2006
Phishing attack focuses on adult webcam users
Experts at SophosLabs™ have warned internet users that criminals are not just targeting online bankers in their phishing campaigns as an attack is launched against users of an adult webcam site.
Spam experts based in Sydney, one of the global network of virus, spyware and spam analysis centers operated by Sophos, have identified an active phishing campaign focused on users of iFriends, which claims to be the world's largest online videochat community with more than two million registered users. Many of the video chatrooms hosted by iFriends are of an adult nature.
The phishing email encourages recipients to update their account information at iFriends:
Dear valued iFriends® member,
It has come to our attention that your iFriends® account information needs to be updated as part of our continuing commitment to protect your account and to reduce the instance of fraud on our website. If you could please take 5-10 minutes out of your online experience and update your personal records you will not run into any future problems with the online service.
However, failure to update your records will result in account suspension. Please update your records on or before Aug - 27 - 2006.
Once you have updated your account records, your iFriends® session will not be interrupted and will continue as normal.
However, the email links to a bogus website, which attempts to steal the user's name, address, credit card number, and even ATM PIN.
Phishers have set up a bogus website to steal credit card information.
"Computer users need to develop a greater skepticism about unsolicited email, or they risk having their identity and finances stolen in a flash," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "Internet surfers need to learn that phishers don't just target bankers, but anyone who interacts with online companies."
Sophos recommends companies protect themselves with a consolidated solution which can defend businesses from the threats of spam, phishing, spyware and viruses.
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About Sophos
More than 100 million users in 150 countries rely on Sophos as the best protection against complex threats and data loss. Sophos is committed to providing security and data protection solutions that are simple to manage, deploy and use and that deliver the industry's lowest total cost of ownership. Sophos offers award-winning encryption, endpoint security, web, email, and network access control solutions backed by SophosLabs - a global network of threat intelligence centers. With more than two decades of experience, Sophos is regarded as a leader in security and data protection by top analyst firms and has received many industry awards.
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.
