ESPN star Erin Andrews’ naked video being used by hackers to attack PC’s
By ANITuesday, July 21, 2009
WASHINGTON - A computer security website has issued a warning that hackers are misusing a video that has naked shots of glamorous ESPN sports reporter Erin Andrews as a lure to attack PC’s.
The illegally taped peephole video, showing Andrews as she disrobes, gets viewers and web surfers to download dangerous malware to their computers, reports CBS News.
The video went viral online and ESPN lawyers have been scrambling to shut down websites that post links to the material, and even though it means that it would be difficult to locate on the net, there is still a huge demand for it.
According to sophos.com, a website that sells security software, and also provides security news, it is that drive that is enabling hackers to plug in.
Sophos said one version of the hack, fools surfers into clicking on what appears to be a CNN version of the video.
When users hit the play button, they are presented with a pop up window warning them that their popup blocker has blocked the video player window, and they must launch another player.
Doing so doesn’t play the video, but it does install a Trojan horse with which hackers can later attack the computer, says the site.
Both Apple and Windows computers are vulnerable, according to Sophos.
It is not yet clear what effect the virus will have on computers or how widely it will spread. (ANI)
