PandaLabs has
reported that YouTube's message sending system has been partly
compromised by cyber-crooks to spread malware.
Hackers are sending spoof YouTube messages to users to say they
have been caught on a spy cam and the video has been posted on the
internet. The scam aims to trick users into clicking the link to
the video.
The messages appear to have been sent from YouTube and has led
to a malware strain detected as Autodelete.G. If the user clicks
the attached link a vicious bug gets automatically downloaded.
Dominic Hoskins, country manager at
Panda Security UK,
said, "This type of attack is a frequently used technique of social
engineering which, surprisingly, is very effective despite its
relatively simple methodology.
"Cyber-crooks increasingly use popular social services such as
YouTube to give authenticity to their e-mails and increase the
number of potential victims."