Bandar Seri Begawan - Local Twitter users are being warned of the latest wave of cybercrime attacks spreading across the service - a `phishing' scam that is designed to steal login details and hijack accounts, according to IT security and data protection firm Sophos.

Twitter, a free US-based social networking and microblogging service, is gaining popularity among Bruneians. Like Facebook, another popular social networking service, Twitter enables users to share and update what is happening right now and to stay connected.

Bernama reported that the attacks come in the form of messages asking "This you?" followed by a link to a bogus Twitter login page. The messages have caused such a scare on the micro-blogging network that the phrase is currently a "hot trending topic" on the site.

The attack, the latest in a storm of phishing attacks that have occurred on Twitter since the weekend, is designed to steal passwords and use hijacked accounts to spread money-making spam campaigns, steal identities and distribute malware, the firm said.

The "This you?" messages are accompanied by clickable links that take unsuspecting users to a fake Twitter login page.

Users who are tricked into believing they might see a picture or information about themselves may be duped into entering their username and password without thinking about the possible consequences.

"Twitter users have battled with phishing attacks in the last few days, all taking advantage of people's curiosity," said Graham Clueley, Senior Technology Consultant at Sophos.

"But if you click on the link and enter your details, you could be taking your online identity and handing it over on a plate to hackers.

"They can then take your username, e-mail address and password. Not only can they use it to spread more attacks via Twitter, but they can also use your credentials at many other websites, potentially exposing your other online accounts to abuse," Cluley added.

Cluely advised users who have been hit by such attacks to change their passwords immediately.

The senior technology consultant said crime on social networks was on the rise, judging from the 43 per cent increase in the number of people reporting being "phished" via such sites.

He added that the way things were looking indicated that the figure could only go up. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin