Facebook's Christmas Tree virus only a hoax

Security vendor Sophos says Facebook users can relax and stop warning each other about a supposed computer crashing Christmas tree-themed app disguised as a virus since the whole thing is just a hoax.

Thousands of Facebook users have raced in recent days to rescue friends by posting warnings of "one of the WORST Trojan viruses" out there, but Sophos says it has seen no evidence that such a malware-bearing app exists (not that one couldn't be concocted). Sophos says the warnings of this non-existent app actually appear to have traveled faster than past warnings of real threats.

"Users believe they're doing the right thing when they share warnings like this - but unfortunately they haven't checked their facts," writes Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant with Sophos, on the company's blog.

:story: Full story: Computerworld