Virus targets Facebook

There is a new virus being spread in cyberland, and the target, this time is the Facebook social networking site. Known as Koobface, the virus is spread through messages sent from friends whose computers have been infected. The messages arrive in Facebook inboxes with subject lines such as "you look just awesome in this new movie" and direct readers to another website to supposedly watch the video clip.

When Facebook members visit the site, they are shown a message that tells them they need an updated Adobe Systems Flash player. Downloading the software infects the victim's computer with the virus.

"Only a very small percentage of Facebook users have been affected, and we're working quickly to update our security systems to minimize any further impact," Barry Schnitt, a spokesman for Facebook, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

The current attack is a variant of a worm that first struck Facebook in August. MySpace users suffered a similar assault over the summer, but they haven't been targeted again since new security measures were put in place.

For more on social networking attacks:
- see this San Francisco Chronicle article

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