A Twitter virus that will put an obscene message and link into your tweets is going around, and the likely source if the virus is phishing.
Phishing occurs when a user clicks on a link that takes the user to a fake Twitter home page. When the user enters account information, the page (which is really a bot for the virus) records the username and password and now can access the account without the real user’s permission. What usually results are more virus-producing, annoying and often obscene links showing up as the user’s Twitter updates. Also, with this virus, malware can be downloaded onto Windows and Mac computers.
To avoid phishing, make sure you are prepared for your browser screen to take you back to the Twitter home page randomly after clicking a link. If this happens, check to make sure that the URL is http://twitter.com. If it’s anything but this, you are probably on a phishing page.
But don’t worry—you can’t be phished if you don’t type in your password. Even if you do, then your next recourse is to change your password altogether.
The current virus is posting messages related to Leighton Meester of the TV show “Gossip Girls.”
Source:
ZDNet: Guy Kawaski’s Twitter Account Hijacked, Pushes Windows And Mac Malware
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