Beware the Facebook Koobface Virus

I'm not a big fan of these networking sites, but I do have pages on Facebook and LinkedIn and 1Up. By and large, they have been pretty free of nasty malware, but those days are apparently over.

The worst thing about this one is that it will come in the form of an email from someone you have already accepted as a friend.

Typically, the subject line reads like this: "You look so amazing and funny on our new video," but the text may vary.

Links you to a site that looks a little like YouTube and a typical video clip. But the video doesn't play and you are prompted to download an upgrade that will allow you to play the video. The download is the file with the malicious code.

Yeah, I know, one would think that you would have to be pretty out of it to follow all of those steps without having some alarm bells go off, but maybe the folks on Facebook are just a little too trusting. Either that or maybe we have come to a point where we are videotaping each other way too goddam much.

Like, for example, what the frack is up with all these female celebrities who are letting themselves get photographed and videotaped while they have sex?? Like my favorite actress, Kristin Davis.  

Ugh, girl. What the HELL were you thinking?

The guy tells you he just wants to have a video memory of this once in a lifetime experience, then uploads it onto You Tube...?

Okay, show of hands here, guys.

How many of you, if you A) actually got to have sex with Kristin Davis and B) she actually allowed you to shoot a video the event, would truly be able to keep it a secret from all of your male friends?

LIES!

Hmm, I think I may have figured out why so many people are opening these infected attachments.

Heh, maybe it's not the cheery "Oh, let's see how clever I look on this video' kind of motivation.

Maybe too many people can't exactly remember what they were doing when that videotape began to roll.

Maybe it's more along the lines of the 'Oh nooo, I was drunk, what the frack did I DO last night?' kind of motivation.

Powerful incentive. Meh.

You see, people, this is why we all need to leave the whole Missing Time thing to the Space Alien Abductees.

Nay, I won't be opening any attachments like this.

I've been drunk exactly once. It was the night I decided Roy could go to the Philippines for his research...for a year.

I made sure my two best Real Life friends were with me, Lisa and Frannie, and we all got sloshed. Can't remember anything else about that night, but I do know it was just three straight redheads and a big freaking headache the next morning.

No men allowed. And DEFINITELY no video.

Well, if there are too many nights you don't remember in your recent social activities, here's a link with more information.

Go here, if you have already been, umm, infected, uh ,digitally speaking, that is.

Be careful out there. :)