Scammers Use Osama Bin Laden's Death To Spread Malware On Facebook, Google

With the news of Osama Bin Laden's death commanding the Web today, it's no surprise that spammers have been exploiting the news for hours. It's pretty much the standard scheme these days; scammers latch onto any big news events in order to get unsuspecting victims to fall for scams.

VentureBeat reports that the Osama malware is already flourishing online. Cloud security firm Zscaler highlights a malicious site that shows a "purported photo of a murdered Osama bin Laden" with a call to download a copy of the VLC video player in order to view video of the video of his death. Of course, this downloads a malicious file called XvidSetup.exe.

Kaspersky's David Jacoby found malware spreading on Google Images already, and stumbled on Facebook pages offering "FREE Subway" and "2 Southwest Plane Tickets" to celebrate Osama's death. The message and malicious link will then spread via the victims' wall.

Symantec told SC Magazine that it expects to see "in excess of 100 million spam emails" related to Bin Laden, and The Daily Mail explains that terms like "Osama Bin Laden Dead," "Al Qaeda" and "Obama Address" are already being targeted by scammers.

As usual, make sure your security software is up to date, and be mindful of where you're reading news and commentary.

Comments

[Jon Farist]

09:29 PM on 05/03/2011

You got to give the spammers props, they do use VERY manipulative tactics. (If you lack a pulse)

[Joe Cass]

04:38 PM on 05/03/2011

The RNC network going down in 3....2....pron!

[Chrystal Ji Davey]

12:14 PM on 05/03/2011

Seriously, you don't need to be THAT smart t avoid Facebook scams... Then proceed with caution on Google, but still... I've met way too many oblivious people, I guess.

[RedandGreen]

06:13 PM on 05/02/2011

The world thinks Bin Laden was such an evil force -- scammers, who are relatives of free market exploiters show how evil they are -- and infinitely more extensive and damaging worldwide! -- and over an interminably long time.

[Almondo]

04:47 PM on 05/02/2011

I expect to see the shark that ate him to be listed on eBay later today.

[Chrystal Ji Davey]

12:15 PM on 05/03/2011

Haha! Weirdly, this made my day.

[Diana McCandless]

12:44 AM on 05/04/2011

haha, yes, thanks for the laugh

[BuckyJamesDio]

04:27 PM on 05/02/2011

They should make a game in which you play a terrorist who has to blow up as much as possible before getting offed. They could call it "Harmville".

Okay, that was awful. I'm sorry.

[ManOutOfTime]

12:07 AM on 05/03/2011

Clever but, yeah, tasteless. I laughed out loud but now I feel guilty. Thanks!

[BuckyJamesDio]

12:57 AM on 05/03/2011

Glad I could help with the daily dose of Wrong. It's a horribly satisfying job.

Cheers!

[Chrystal Ji Davey]

12:15 PM on 05/03/2011

Hahah the weirdest things are making my day today!! Indeed, that was clever.
DO IT.

[glomtt]

04:14 PM on 05/02/2011

Watch out for this one friends!

[itsjimmy]

03:44 PM on 05/02/2011

That's what "deathers" deserve for "wanting proof of the body."

[The Platzner Post]

03:43 PM on 05/02/2011

What a shame...Beware...Smh!!!

[jcarterla]

03:38 PM on 05/02/2011

On September 12, 2011 my boss had me designing OBL targets and anything he could get a flag on. Some people just can't help it.

[Claw2122]

10:10 PM on 05/02/2011

As far as I know September 12 2011 hasn't occurred yet?

[jcarterla]

02:52 AM on 05/03/2011

Clever. You know what I meant.

[raffa657]

03:36 PM on 05/02/2011

Wow! Now he's a marketing tool?
I hope his surviving family gets a cut.

[Rubix41]

12:24 AM on 05/03/2011

Like they need it

[zombywulf]

03:35 PM on 05/02/2011

We have :
beard hair $500.00
turban piece: $1500.00
your initials branded on the body $10,000.00

cash only.
Mail in a plain brown wrapper to: RNC, Washington , DC

[Chrystal Ji Davey]

12:17 PM on 05/03/2011

x)
hahahahahah

[thegirlnextdoor]

03:32 PM on 05/02/2011

Note that only folks who are goolish and want to see photos of a dead man, or celebrate a death are going to get hit with this one.

[Will98]

03:59 PM on 05/02/2011

took the words right out of my mouth.

[Diana McCandless]

12:47 AM on 05/04/2011

what's wrong with morbid curiosity?

[Peter B Steele]

03:32 PM on 05/02/2011

God people have no lives to be posting scams already like this. They just all need to be shot just like Osama!

[Diana McCandless]

12:49 AM on 05/04/2011

But then another Scammer will just make up a *new* scam: "Click here to see picture of Dead Scammers".

[Peter B Steele]

02:18 AM on 05/04/2011

LMAO very very true!

[Steven Baldesco]

03:31 PM on 05/02/2011

Thanks goodness I didn't click any of those images that showed "photos" of Bin Laden dead. What a relief.