With Christmas season at its peak, hackers are stealing details of Facebook profiles and selling them to cybercriminal gangs for just 89p each, according to a new research study.
These gangs would use these crucial details to launch “spam” messages to the computer users, urging them to visit counterfeit video or image links.
These malicious links, when clicked, infect users’ computers with malware and spyware viruses that can track keystrokes entered, along with other significant information, such as usernames and passwords of online bank accounts.
As per the research reports from security firm Trend Micro, cyber attacks increased during the shopping season between September and December last year, and it would likely to follow similar trend in 2008.
In addition, the security experts from Trend Micro notified that set of credit card details is being sold for GBP 25, while online banking log-ins are priced at GBP 35 each.
Citing the gravity of cyber attacks during this season, Rik Ferguson from Trend Micro told ‘The Sun’ newspaper, “Whether you're going online to use Facebook, or for banking or Christmas shopping, you should be aware that hacking and identity theft tends to increase at certain times of the year”.
The relatively low price of Facebook profiles mean that it is quite easy to either create or obtain them and that they don't necessarily mean a sure way to rake in money. It also shows that Facebook users could be relatively "relaxed" with regards to security as some recent security scares have demonstrated.
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