Harry Potter's latest cinematic adventure is already breaking box-office records, as the boy wizard encounters murder, betrayal and heartbreak at a theater near you. But a very different danger is plaguing his fans in cyberspace — where hackers are using the blockbuster to cast a spell on computers worldwide.
"It's definitely the most targeted film that we've seen," explained Michael Greene, VP of Product Strategy at PC Tools, whose virus fighters have been hard at work battling "Harry Potter hackers" over the last few weeks. "This is pretty scary stuff."
Here's how it works: These days, millions of people are searching the Web for info on "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which is certain to become the #1 film in the country. Knowing this, cybercriminals are using search optimization tactics to target popular sites like Digg.com with headlines like "Watch 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' online free!" and comment posts filled with related keywords to attract Google. Seeing professional-looking images from the film, Potter fans are convinced that the movie is one click away — but as they keep clicking, a virus is being installed on their computers.
"A couple of weeks ago I started to notice it; there was a Digg post about viewing the new 'Harry Potter' movie in advance," Greene explained. "It tells you to download a video player — which is actually pretty common — if you watch a Flash movie or don't have the right software. But in this case, you're not getting a Flash plug-in or anything like that — what you're getting is the malware of the day.
"At that point, your computer has been infected," he added. "And even worse, you don't get to see the 'Harry Potter' movie."
The reason it's particularly scary is that these virus downloads are brazenly creeping onto legitimate Web sites — and teasing a largely youth-oriented fanbase with the forbidden fruit of a free, legal download. "In the old days, people would go to gambling sites or pornography sites and get infected — the dark underbelly of the Internet," Greene said of the new hackers. "Viruses and malware would just trash your computer, and you might lose some data. Nowadays, it's a lot worse than that."
The Potter virus is categorized as crimeware, which searches your computer for credit card or bank information, Greene said. "[The hackers] will collect credit card details, social security numbers. Then they'll turn around and sell that to another group, a 'carding operation' they call it, and these guys will buy blank credit cards from a third group; they'll put them together, print out the credit cards and then sell physical credit cards with your numbers on the street."
The lesson, Greene explained, is a basic one: If you want to see "Half-Blood Prince," pay 10 bucks and get yourself to a movie theater. And if you're one of the many who've already attempted to download something too good to be true — get yourself a good antivirus program and begin cleaning up your computer, immediately.
"As long as there is money to be made, havoc to be created, there will be Voldemorts out there," Greene joked, comparing the Harry Potter hackers to the boy wizard's evil nemesis. "To keep Hogwarts running, we have to train the magicians to keep themselves safe."
"It's definitely the most targeted film that we've seen," explained Michael Greene, VP of Product Strategy at PC Tools, whose virus fighters have been hard at work battling "Harry Potter hackers" over the last few weeks. "This is pretty scary stuff."
Here's how it works: These days, millions of people are searching the Web for info on "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which is certain to become the #1 film in the country. Knowing this, cybercriminals are using search optimization tactics to target popular sites like Digg.com with headlines like "Watch 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' online free!" and comment posts filled with related keywords to attract Google. Seeing professional-looking images from the film, Potter fans are convinced that the movie is one click away — but as they keep clicking, a virus is being installed on their computers.
"A couple of weeks ago I started to notice it; there was a Digg post about viewing the new 'Harry Potter' movie in advance," Greene explained. "It tells you to download a video player — which is actually pretty common — if you watch a Flash movie or don't have the right software. But in this case, you're not getting a Flash plug-in or anything like that — what you're getting is the malware of the day.
"At that point, your computer has been infected," he added. "And even worse, you don't get to see the 'Harry Potter' movie."
The reason it's particularly scary is that these virus downloads are brazenly creeping onto legitimate Web sites — and teasing a largely youth-oriented fanbase with the forbidden fruit of a free, legal download. "In the old days, people would go to gambling sites or pornography sites and get infected — the dark underbelly of the Internet," Greene said of the new hackers. "Viruses and malware would just trash your computer, and you might lose some data. Nowadays, it's a lot worse than that."
The Potter virus is categorized as crimeware, which searches your computer for credit card or bank information, Greene said. "[The hackers] will collect credit card details, social security numbers. Then they'll turn around and sell that to another group, a 'carding operation' they call it, and these guys will buy blank credit cards from a third group; they'll put them together, print out the credit cards and then sell physical credit cards with your numbers on the street."
The lesson, Greene explained, is a basic one: If you want to see "Half-Blood Prince," pay 10 bucks and get yourself to a movie theater. And if you're one of the many who've already attempted to download something too good to be true — get yourself a good antivirus program and begin cleaning up your computer, immediately.
"As long as there is money to be made, havoc to be created, there will be Voldemorts out there," Greene joked, comparing the Harry Potter hackers to the boy wizard's evil nemesis. "To keep Hogwarts running, we have to train the magicians to keep themselves safe."
REGULAR
1 scoop of cool whip
butterscotch ice cream toppping mix till well blended
and cream soda <3 A&W
ICE CREAM BUTTERBEER
1 scoop of cool whip
butterscotch ice cream topping (mix till well blended)
cream soda A&W
1 scoop of vinallia ice cream
she made both for me today there her own recipes and they are so good you just HAVE to try the ice cream one its amazing ive got a pic of the ice cream one in my pics if you need to see what it looks like and make sure you have a spoon it sets fast but its good even when its set
<3 happy butterbeer drinking kids
1 scoop of cool whip
butterscotch ice cream toppping mix till well blended
and cream soda <3 A&W
ICE CREAM BUTTERBEER
1 scoop of cool whip
butterscotch ice cream topping (mix till well blended)
cream soda A&W
1 scoop of vinallia ice cream
she made both for me today there her own recipes and they are so good you just HAVE to try the ice cream one its amazing ive got a pic of the ice cream one in my pics if you need to see what it looks like and make sure you have a spoon it sets fast but its good even when its set
<3 happy butterbeer drinking kids
Soft Harry Potters Fans will expierience:
1. You will actually remember a few of the actual spells/curses/charms/hexes etc..
2. You will propably almost always turn the conversation to Harry Potter.
3. You would have named SOMETHING after a Harry Potter character/object.
4. Whenever Harry Potter is mentioned you'll listen straightaway!
Hardcore Harry Potter Fans will expierience:
1. Whenever Harry Potter comes up in a conversation you'll feel as if they're talking about YOU.
2. You will accidently call someone at SOME POINT a character in Harry Potter.
3. You will propably name almost EVERYTHING after Harry Potter characters/objects
4. You would have read the whole series more than three times. Ditto films.
5. You can quote long passages off by heart.
So dahlings, see if you have any of these symptons and you'll know wether your a fanatic or a just a plain fan. :)
1. You will actually remember a few of the actual spells/curses/charms/hexes etc..
2. You will propably almost always turn the conversation to Harry Potter.
3. You would have named SOMETHING after a Harry Potter character/object.
4. Whenever Harry Potter is mentioned you'll listen straightaway!
Hardcore Harry Potter Fans will expierience:
1. Whenever Harry Potter comes up in a conversation you'll feel as if they're talking about YOU.
2. You will accidently call someone at SOME POINT a character in Harry Potter.
3. You will propably name almost EVERYTHING after Harry Potter characters/objects
4. You would have read the whole series more than three times. Ditto films.
5. You can quote long passages off by heart.
So dahlings, see if you have any of these symptons and you'll know wether your a fanatic or a just a plain fan. :)