IT security firm Sophos is claiming that hackers have compromised a number of pages on the US Sony PlayStation website.
According to the company, its researches have discovered that hackers have managed to plant unauthorized code on pages promoting the PlayStation games SingStar Pop and God of War.
The malicious code is said to attempt to fool the site's visitors into running a bogus anti-virus scan which then informs them that their computer is infected with a number of viruses and Trojan horses.
Sophos reports that the hackers' aim is to persuade the site's users to purchase a counterfeit security product.
"There are millions of video game lovers around the world, many of whom will visit Sony's PlayStation website regularly to find out more about the latest console games," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos.
"Most would never expect that surfing to a website like this could potentially infect them with malware. If users do not have sufficient protection in place then they might find that before they know it they have been scared into handing their credit card details over to a bunch of cybercriminals."
Next-Gen has contacted Sony Computer Entertainment America for comment.
This sort of thing annoys me so much! When one of my parents get some malware on their machine telling them that they have a virus and to buy their product, then absolutely refuse to uninstall, it makes my blood boil. I work in IT Support so I can fix it no problem, but it's gets me so angry.
"If users do not have sufficient protection in place then they might find that before they know it they have been scared into handing their credit card details over to a bunch of cybercriminals."
"If users do not have sufficient protection in place then they might find that before they know it they have been scared into handing their credit card details over to a bunch of cybercriminals."
Are people still that thick?
I have the answer to that question! All I need are your credit card details...
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
