Cybercriminals use false Bill Cosby death news for attacks
2010-02-09
People looking to avoid an IT intrusion will want to be wary of a new scam that claims comedian Bill Cosby is dead.
Cybercriminals have created web pages pretending to be a CNN news report about the purported death of Bill Cosby, which then show fake warnings about security problems with the user's computer, Sophos has reported.
The criminals are attempting to frighten people into downloading a fake anti-virus program and possibly handing over their credit card data, the IT security firm noted.
In a company blog, Sophos security expert Graham Cluley commented: "Stop spreading 'news' of hot breaking stories without checking your facts from a reputable website, be cautious of clicking on links to unknown sites and always ensure you have up-to-date anti-virus protection."
On his own website, Cosby has told people he is not dead and also warned of potential viruses stemming from the false news.
The comedian became famous through his appearances in the Cosby Show and his family-friendly brand of entertainment.
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