Google+ centre of new security threat
By David Howells
25/07/2011
Cyber-criminals could be using new social media platform Google+ to distribute their malware on a wide scale.
Google+ is still currently operating on a limited-entry, invite-only basis. The result of this is that - whilst 20 million people have already signed up - places are still sought after as more strive to join.
Now, a security threat had been unearthed which claims to give current users more credits with which to invite more of their friends. As the credits are strictly limited by Google, many users have jumped on the chance to get their hands on more, whilst inadvertently playing straight into the hands of the crooks.
With many businesses encouraging its employers to sign up to the social network, many may now have to upgrade their systems management software to deal with the new threats.
The techniques being used, business-standard.com reports, include encouraging users to input their Gmail logins to a third-party page. Furthermore, under the guise of asking security questions, the cyber criminals behind the threat request a mobile number.
They then sign the user up to receive SMS marketing messages - for which they will be charged.
Speaking to philstar.com of the newest threats, online security expert Karla Agregado explained: "We already know how Facebook ended up fitting right into cyber-criminals' plans with the numerous attacks targeting the social network.
"Considering this recent development, it's possible that Google+ will have the same fate as Facebook."
