Hackers, scammers and spammers are directing Internet users to Web sites claiming to host a controversial video of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, warns IT security and data protection firm, Sophos.
The video, which is currently the sixth most searched for item on the Web, is being exploited by cyber criminals who create Web pages and links that claim to contain the video, but are really traps designed to infect and scam unsuspecting users, explains the company.
"If you visit a site which claims to contain the peephole video, you could be exposing yourself to malware (such as fake anti-virus), spam and other scams," warns Brett Myroff, CEO of regional distributor, Sophos SA. "The scammers are busy at work creating content designed to entrap those who go hunting for sleazy videos."
YouTube has seen scores of uploads following Barrett's jail sentence, claiming to contain footage from the controversial video. However, warns Sophos, when played the YouTube videos display a message saying for copyright reasons they cannot show the video - instead urging the user to click on a link to a third-party site.
That link to a third-party Web site may simply be designed to drive traffic to a spam page, or lead to a page that asks one to sign up for a service, take a survey, or carry malware.
To see how hackers have been exploiting Erin Andrews footage, Sophos has created a demonstration video on YouTube.
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