Hours after news of his death spread across the globe late last month, spam e-mail spreading trojans, malicious software and other forms of computer attacks started circling cyberspace in his name. --PHOTO: REUTERS
BE CAREFUL how you honour the legacy of pop icon Michael Jackson.
Hours after news of his death spread across the globe late last month, spam e-mail spreading trojans, malicious software and other forms of computer attacks started circling cyberspace in his name.
With subject headings ranging from 'Remember Michael Jackson' to 'What killed Michael?', the e-mail, which vary in content and language, contain anything from links, webpages loaded with viruses to zip files containing malicious software.
Once downloaded into computers, these programs can steal or record passwords and forward them to cybercriminals, infect office computers and cause downtime, and even hijack the computers and turn them into a spam generator.
'Cybercriminals have learned to waste no time when newsworthy opportunities for on-line trickery present themselves,' said Mr Paul Ducklin, head of technology at Sophos, Asia Pacific.
The computer security firm's Asia office here issued a warning last Thursday about an Internet virus transmitted from a mass e-mail which claimed to contain secret songs and photos of Jackson.
Downloaded malicious software or viruses allow cybercriminals to obtain personal information such as updated e-mail addresses, bank account information, passwords, credit card details and even a person's full identity, from files stored in the computer or when the information is keyed into websites.
Preying on the inquisitive nature of Netizens while exploiting the online social networking environment, this latest wave takes advantage of hot news topics to spread viruses.
Netizens should also be on the lookout for spam related to the death of actress Farrah Fawcett, although there are fewer of those than viruses linked to Jackson.
