Hacked accounts on Gmail, are you one of them?

Are you as safe and Secure on the web as you think you are?

If you have Gmail, you might want to go check your sent messages and make sure there aren't any unexpected emails sent out by you to people in your contact list. There is a Hacker virus being spread Via Gmail exploiting a weakness in "Google Notifier" and the subject line says something like "Hey" or "Hi", very simple and friendly Subjects, as to not attract attention to the fact that this might be a possible virus, but you won't find it on your computer!. 

This is affecting people with various operating systems, including Mac OS. Some are thinking it might be a weakness on the Android phone allowing a 3rd party to hack into your information and sign onto your Gmail or Facebook account, however, this is also affecting people who don't use cell phones. One person has reported that every Gmail account user in their entire company has been hacked, all on the same day! I have even seen this link posted on blogs and posting forums, even in Yahoo groups.

The link is this:

(link edited to remove the http:// for safety) g.msn.com.br/BR9/1369.0?http://cnbc7.com/news

What is so misleading about this link is that it has the MSN.com and cnbc7.com/news so if you post it in a Facebook message, which has been done, it pops up this fake MSN News site for information and pictures, which misleads you to believe that this is a safe link. When posted on a Facebook wall it says something like this:

 

The site the link takes you to is the same site identified in the old "Work at Home" scam that hit Facebook this last year.

Here are some of the email messages sent out from Gmail users with this link attached:

• Stephen, this is right up your alley (edited)g.msn.com.br/BR9/1369.0?http://cnbc7.com/news
• hello i'm more than grateful for this (edited)g.msn.com.br/BR9/1369.0?http://cnbc7.com/news
• hello josh, i've been enjoying all of life's greatest luxuries (edited)g.msn.com.br/BR9/1369.0?http://cnbc7.com/news
• Hey Nick it can't hurt to try this (edited)g.msn.com.br/BR9/1369.0?http://cnbc7.com/news
• hello , when I started on here I didn't assume it was this easy (edited)g.msn.com.br/BR9/1369.0?http://cnbc7.com/news
• hey Kathy, i've already gone on multiple vacations this year (edited)g.msn.com.br/BR9/1369.0?http://cnbc7.com/news
• hi A, it surprised me to learn that this was so fast and efficient (edited)g.msn.com.br/BR9/1369.0?http://cnbc7.com/news
• Brian hi test out your skills (edited)g.msn.com.br/BR9/1369.0?http://cnbc7.com/news
• you shouldn't pass this up (edited)g.msn.com.br/BR9/1369.0?http://cnbc7.com/news
• hello Katy, i'm never working a 9-5 again (edited)g.msn.com.br/BR9/1369.0?http://cnbc7.com/news
• hey Marcus, i have been living on the edge (edited)g.msn.com.br/BR9/1369.0?http://cnbc7.com/news
• i changed my life in the blink of an eye (edited)g.msn.com.br/BR9/1369.0?http://cnbc7.com/news

As you can see, they are very clever and take the time to create a personal message to the recipient, which indicated the sender knows more than just the email address, they know the name of the recipient, indicating access to your contact lisst. This problem was first reported on May 31, 2011, so this is a new problem and there isn't much information found on the net about it at this time.

Usually, if you've received a reply to a message that wasn't sent from your address, there are two possibilities:

• The message was spoofed, forging your address as the sender.
• The original sender used your address as a reply-to address so that responses would be sent to you.
• Now we have a 3rd, because this one leaves evidence that the messages were sent from your account in your sent folder, so who ever this is has gained access to your Gmail account.

This is actually an old "Work from Home" scam website that is registered in China and had affected many Facebook account just a few short months ago. Apparently they are still at it and doing their best to find as many ways to post this link as possible.

So here is how you can check if your account has been compromised:

 http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=45938




To find out more about protecting yourself on Gmail and your Google account, please visit this link:

Gmail Security Checklist
http://mail.google.com/support/bin/static.py?page=checklist.cs&tab=29488


Sophos Anti virus has posted some information on this issue

How to stop your Gmail account being hacked
http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2011/06/02/how-to-stop-your-gmail-account-being-hacked/

35 million Google profiles were *already* exposed on the internet
http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2011/06/01/35-million-google-profiles-were-already-exposed-on-the-net/


And check out this thread for more information
http://knol.google.com/k/how-to-recover-a-hacked-or-compromised-gmail-account?pli=1#When_you_reclaim_Your_Account


Check us out on the web at http://real2net.com We have a new look! Also, join us on Facebook and

GET INFORMED!!!


Add us:
Real 2 Net on Facebook
Real 2 Net on YouTube
Real 2 Net Web Site


Powered By Real 2 Net Media©