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Home Online Trend Micro Reports That Koobface Is Abusing Google Reader
November 11, 2009 Online Comments Off on Trend Micro Reports That Koobface Is Abusing Google Reader

Trend Micro Reports That Koobface Is Abusing Google Reader

trend_micro_trendlab_logoTrend Micro TrendLabs has identified a new development in the Koobface Botnet, this time abusing the Google-owned service, Google Reader.

Trend Micro threat research continues to monitor Koobface activities, including the spamming of URLs by Koobface on social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

Early this morning, they discovered that Google Reader URLs were being spammed by Koobface on social network sites. The attack works by having a Google Account controlled by the Koobface gang, host a page with a fake YouTube video. When a victim clicks on the fake YouTube video it redirects to a compromised website – which hosts another fake YouTube video. The compromised website leads to user infection, with the subsequent result of the victim becoming part of the Koobface botnet.

At the time of writing there are around 1,300 known, unique fake Google Reader accounts spammed by Koobface on social network sites. Trend Micro has contacted Google about this incident.

“This is yet another attack where cybercriminals misuse social networking tools, that were originally designed for fun, for their own profit”, commented Trend Micro CTO, Raimund Genes.

Google Reader is a free service offered by Google that allows users to monitor websites for new content and allows the users to share new content from websites. The feature that enables users to share new content is that which the koobface gang has abused through the spamming of malicious links.

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Tags: google, google account, google reader, koobface, koobface gang, report, social networking sites, trend micro, trendlab, trendmicro, youtube, youtube video

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Tarek Kassar

Tarek is the founder and chief researcher at Youngberry, a youth research and marketing firm dedicated to the region. Tarek founded interactiveME.com and previously worked as Manager at Flip Media (Interactive Agency), Bayt.com (Job Site) and Consulting House Qatar (Consulting firm). He is researcher and writer on internet & disruptive innovation, entrepreneurship, and youth culture.

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