Hackers use Jackson Suicide Rumor to Spread Virus
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James Joyner | Friday, June 10, 2005 |
Hackers use Jackson rumor to spread virus (Reuters)
Emails claiming pop star Michael Jackson, on trial on sex abuse charges, has tried to kill himself are being spread by hackers as a means to break into computers, a British anti-virus firm said on Friday. The hackers have sent emails with the subject “Re: Suicidal attempt” and the message text: “Last night, while in his Neverland Ranch, Michael Jackson has made a suicidal attempt”, said security software specialists at Sophos.
[...]
The email asks recipients to click on a link that takes them to a Web site which secretly installs malicious code on their computers.
“If you click on the link, the Web site displays a message saying it is too busy, which may not surprise people who think it might contain genuine breaking news about Michael Jackson,” said Carole Theriault, security consultant at Sophos.
Lovely. It amazes me that people still click on these things, though.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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