Hackers attacking through websites for kids
Hackers attacking through websites for kids
January 18, 2012, 11:26 am. CNET Australia
Beware gaming websites for kids they may look cute and innocent, but they're increasingly becoming targets for hackers to infect your computer with malware.
Czech anti-virus company Avast has warned against flash gaming websites aimed at children, saying that it has found over 60 individual sites distributing malware in the last 30 days.
The most popular of these was the pretty pink CuteArcade.com, which features puzzles, pet simulators and colouring games featuring Hello Kitty, Hannah Montana and the Disney Princesses. Users reported over 12,600 incidences of malware infection as of 10 January.
The second most popular site was HiddenNinjaGames.com, with flash arcade games.
"Games like these require clicking and children dont think much about what they are clicking on," said Ondrej Vlcek, CTO of AVAST Software. "This makes them or their parents' computer quite susceptible to malware."
He further warns that how children use the internet that is, playing a lot of different games on different websites also increases the risk of picking up a malicious Trojan. And, although a website may be legitimate, hackers can still insert malware unbeknownst to the site's owner.
The best way to stay safe is, of course, an antivirus program that keeps up-to-date with the latest virus definitions and scans regularly for infections.
Avast recommends its own product, which is among the best available, but other good free options also include Microsoft Security Essentials, Avira, AVG and Malwarebytes.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/technology/digital-home/article/-/12630880/hackers-attacking-through-websites-for-kids/
