IT security and control firm Sophos is warning Internet users to be wary of Web sites claiming to host a controversial nude video of high-profile ESPN reporter Erin Andrews. Hackers are using the hype surrounding the hidden camera tape to distribute malware that will infect both PC and Mac computer systems.
The Internet has been abuzz with news that a voyeur had secretly filmed the glamorous US sports reporter through the peephole of her hotel room door. Lawyers working for Andrews said they will take legal action against anyone distributing the footage, which was taken without her knowledge or consent.
However, opportunists and hackers have been quick to set up Web sites claiming to contain the illicit content, in the hope of driving Internet traffic to their Web sites or infecting innocent victims.
Computer users who visit many of these sites are running the risk of being infected by the OSX/Jahlav-C Trojan horse on Macs, or the Mal/FakeAV-AY Trojan if visiting from a Windows computer. “Once a hacker has control of your computer they can steal sensitive information and con unsuspecting computer users into paying for bogus online protection,” says Brett Myroff, CEO of regional Sophos distributor, Sophos South Africa.
"Users searching for sleazy videos shouldn't be surprised if their computers end up corrupted," says Myroff. "These attacks are aimed at both Mac and Windows users - hackers often now try to kill two birds with one stone by setting up malicious pages that can determine what type of computer you are using, and serve up the right malware accordingly."
As the hype continues to escalate online, Sophos notes that hackers have also taken to posting links to the malicious sites in as many places as possible, including comments on blogs written on the subject. Sophos advises that all computer users avoid following untrusted links from blog and news story comments.
Sophos has posted a video, which journalists and bloggers are free to embed on their own Web sites, demonstrating what happens if you fall into the hacker's trap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB8ueXkZrMc.
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Sophos South Africa
NetXactics, trading as Sophos South Africa, is a South African-based company focused on the provision of security solutions. It is the master distributor for UK-based Sophos, one of the leaders in the provision of network access control and endpoint, e-mail and Web security and control solutions for the corporate environment. For more information, visit Sophos South Africa at http://www.sophos.co.za.
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, e-mail, and network access control solutions backed by SophosLabs - a global network of threat intelligence centres. 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 http://www.sophos.com.
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