Adware.FSpy
Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are assessment reports for different malware threats which have been collected and analyzed by our research team. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards evaluate and rank threats using several metrics including real-world and potential risk factors, trends, frequency, prevalence, and persistence. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are updated regularly based on our research data and metrics and are useful for a wide range of computer users, from end users seeking solutions to remove malware from their systems to security experts analyzing threats.
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards display a variety of useful information, including:
Ranking: The ranking of a particular threat in EnigmaSoft’s Threat Database.
Severity Level: The determined severity level of an object, represented numerically, based on our risk modeling process and research, as explained in our Threat Assessment Criteria.
Infected Computers: The number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular threat detected on infected computers as reported by SpyHunter.
See also Threat Assessment Criteria.
Ranking: | 16,462 |
Threat Level: | 20 % (Normal) |
Infected Computers: | 40 |
First Seen: | December 28, 2012 |
Last Seen: | August 4, 2023 |
OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
As the 'End of the World' approached on December 21st (due to the supposed Mayan calendar predictions), ESG security researchers observed the resurgence of the Profile Spy scam. This scam is one of the most popular viral social engineering scams on social networks, and it occasionally resurfaces despite the fact that most social networks and social network users know that it is nothing but a scam. Basically, Profile Spy offers computer users the ability to check who has visited their Twitter or Facebook profile. However, it is important to note that these social networks do not track this information and that third party applications do not have the power to do this. Since this is a major point of curiosity for many computer users, this scam will often claim unsuspecting, inexperienced victims. The latest iteration of the Profile Spy scam, detected as Adware.FSpy, uses several elements in its attack, including attacks centered on Facebook, the Google Chrome Web Store and Tumblr.
Previous versions of this scam will try to convince computer users to click on a link by having them 'like' a fake Facebook page. Adware.FSpy may also try to use social engineering tactics to convince computer users to fill out a survey or to copy and paste a malicious URL into their address bar. The Adware.FSpy attack has several steps:
- Adware.FSpy begins on Facebook in the form of a Facebook event invitation. This invitation is sent to random computer users that are friends with the victim. This kind of social engineering tactic is quite common in social engineering worms and scams. One of the ways Adware.FSpy spreads is by using a public 'event', meaning that friends of friends will be capable of seeing Adware.FSpy and potentially click on its link.
- The Facebook event page contains several links in the comments which lead to a profile on the social blogging website Tumblr. In this profile, there is a similar page that contains a link labeled 'Get it here.' Clicking on this link leads computer users to a download of 'Facebook Profile Spy v2.0, supposedly for Google Chrome.
- Computer users in targeted countries will be taken to the extension's web page in the Google Chrome Web Store where they can download the extension_1_0_1.crx file, which is detected as Adware.FSpy by updated anti-malware programs.
- Once installed, Adware.FSpy will display advertisements on the victim's computer, cause browser redirects and install other malware. It will also use the victim's Facebook profile to continue spreading via this social network.
File System Details
# | File Name |
Detections
Detections: The number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular threat detected on
infected computers as reported by SpyHunter.
|
---|---|---|
1. | extension_1_0_1.crx |
URLs
Adware.FSpy may call the following URLs:
clickpaxon.com |
Submit Comment
Please DO NOT use this comment system for support or billing questions. For SpyHunter technical support requests, please contact our technical support team directly by opening a customer support ticket via your SpyHunter. For billing issues, please refer to our "Billing Questions or Problems?" page. For general inquiries (complaints, legal, press, marketing, copyright), visit our "Inquiries and Feedback" page.