The death of '80s heart-throb Patrick Swayze has inspired an outpouring of on-line tributes from fans...while a darker side of the web tries to cash in.Hackers are renowned for jumping on the search bandwagon and targeting popular search terms, to sell fake anti-virus software and to infect your computer with malware. Just as these maggots exploited the deaths of Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett to lead people to virus-laced websites, so Swayze’s death has led to similar tactics.
Cyber-criminals use search engine optimisation (SEO) techniques to get these websites ranked high in search engines like Google. When you visit these legitimate-looking sites you're advised your computer needs anti-virus scans. When these scans are completed, you're told your computer has been infected with Trojans, and surprise! surprise! They then offer to sell you fake anti-virus software to remove them. Many of the sites also implant viruses designed to steal such things as passwords and credit-card numbers. BEWARE!
This is the same technique that I warned about back in July 2009...ask yourself: do you really need to pour your emotions out on a fan website?
1 comment:
Gee, thanks for the warning! I never thought anyone would do this especially on a site where fans are genuine about their feelings. Sad to lose such a great actor, and sadder to find out that we've been exploited and put at risk because of our feelings.
WM
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