Paris Hilton used in fake AV scam

Paris Hilton's image is being used by cybercriminals to push fake anti-virus software programs that actually do more harm than good, researchers have warned.

Hilton regularly pops up in online scams, alongside female celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Madonna, often in emails that promise to take you to nude pictures of the hotel heiress or to news of a scandal involving her.

And fake anti-virus programs such as Antivirus XP 2008 have been circulating on the web recently, which fool surfers into installing rogue software on their PCs by flashing up fake virus warnings.

However, the latest attack, spotted by Trend Micro, combines these two attack vectors. The firm warned that cybercriminals send emails containing links that, if clicked on, lead to the download of troj_fakeav.fp and troj_faveav.fw

"These spammers are apparently in touch with the pop culture scene, as Paris followers from all over the world are by now intimately familiar with that viral video where Paris says, 'I want America to know that I'm, like, totally ready to lead'," said Macky Cruz of Trend Micro.

Anyone who thinks they may have been infected with the malware should make sure their anti-virus program is up to date and run a full system scan.

www.trendmicro.com