'Sexiest Video Ever' Scam Hits Facebook

(CANVAS STAFF REPORTS) - Messages from friends claiming to have the "sexiest video ever" again struck Facebook users' message boxes over the weekend. Computer experts warn to not open the link, especially if it appears to be suspicious, no matter who it appears sent the message.

The Wallet Pop blog said that thousands of Facebook users were apparently struck by this fake message. Clicking on the link infects a computer with malware, which spams it with ads.

It also takes over their account and sends messages to friends with the hope that they too click, spreading the virus further. The message is sent over the newsfeed where it could potentially be clicked on by other users.

This latest incarnation featured a busty woman in a bikini and short skirt, according to The Daily Mail . The link reads, "This is without doubt the sexiest video ever!"

Websense Security Labs produced a video on YouTube showing how the scam works. Users are told they need to upload their "flv player," but what they get instead is the Hotbar toolbar that appears in Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer.

Computer World reported that the cyber-security firm AVG Technologies received more than 300,000 reports of the virus on Saturday. Roger Thompson, AVG's chief research officer, said AVG came up with its number by counting the number of reports from its LinkScanner software, a free browser add-on that detects possibly infected pages.

"It was stunning, really, the number," Thompson said in an instant message interview with Computer World. "And stunning that it was not viral or wormy (but that) Facebook did it all by itself."

Facebook warned users to not click on suspicious-looking messages even if they were sent or posted by friends.

Graham Cluely of security software developer Sophos told the Daily Mail that victims of the malware attack should scan their computer with an up-to-date anti-virus program, change their passwords, review their Facebook application settings and "learn not to be so quick as to fall for a simple social engineering trick like this in the future."