MySpace becomes hotbed for new Adware scheme

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Chicago (IL) - According to Internet security monitor Websense, an increasing trend is growing on Myspace, the social networking site that has an audience of millions of daily viewers, which involves tricking users into clicking on fake YouTube videos that could eventually lead to unknowingly installing damaging adware files.

The potentially dangerous links look like normal embedded YouTube videos, except when a user clicks on it, it will lead them to a Windows Media video that creates a pop-up installer window asking the user to accept an end-user license agreement, which will install the Adware program Zango Cash.

Zango Cash masks itself as being a commission-based application where users can earn money by having it installed on their computers, though several reports say that during the process, it also tracks down and installs spyware, adware, and other parasites that can cause big security problems, leading to an FTC investigation and corresponding $3 million settlement from parent company Zango, Inc.

It is tough to police the sites on MySpace, with millions of registered users and almost limitless HTML coding allowed to be published immediately by anyone. The latest version of Websense’s security software claims to include protection against the YouTube scam.