Virus Alert
Sky News has been told that Facebook users are most at risk from a variant of the Koobface virus, which has been disguised as a Festive greetings video, hosted on a YouTube site.
Security experts say the new virus is "particularly nasty" and compels its victims to participate manually in creating a new Facebook account to help spread the worm.
In previous years, variations of this virus have caused chaos across the web.
But internet security experts believe the new worm is likely to prove particularly effective in fooling users, because of the growing number of people who now opt to send out electronic greetings cards.
The attacks work by posting malicious links on Facebook wall pages, inviting users to click on the Christmas card videos. However, any attempt to play the video turns over control of the PC to the attackers.
There is no doubting that this latest Koobface attack represents a serious threat to social networkers.
Peter Lautin, Panda Security MD
The victim then sees a warning message, requiring them to solve a Captcha (Completely Automated Public Turing Test To Tell Computers And Humans Apart) puzzle within three minutes.
A timer ticks down and if the puzzle goes unsolved after the allotted time, the PC freezes up.
Experts warn that rebooting the computer will not help and the only way to end the loop is to solve the Captcha puzzle.
The victim would then be able to use their PC as normal, but the attacker would still have control.
While those targeted grapple with the unfolding problem, the worm separately uses the victim's computer to fill out a new account application, unseen by them.
The new account is then used to post more Christmas video worms in a continuing cycle.
Internet security company Panda Security has been tracking the latest variant of the Koobface worm from its labs in Spain.
"There is no doubting that this latest Koobface attack represents a serious threat to social networkers," the company's UK managing director Peter Lautin told Sky News.
"If someone runs the infected file on their Facebook or MySpace page, the worm will automatically log in to their account and several other social networking sites, sending malicious messages to all their friends.
"The more people who use an application such as Facebook, or any other means of social networking, the more likely they are to be targeted by bad guys to send out malicious threats such as Koobface."
The company recommends that users do not reply to or follow links included in unsolicited Facebook messages and users should always carefully check that the URL they are entering is really that of the site they want to access.
PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT YOU OPEN. This is serious. Please pass this message on to your own families
MAFIYA VS VORY LOOT ITEMS
Episode 1 - Baklany
Collection: Tattoos
Vault: +6 Defense
Re-vault: +42 Fight Defense boost
Mastery Item: Barsuk SUV (Vehicle) [36 Attack, 52 Defense]
Vory:
Chapter 1:
Concealable Camera (Consumable)
Untraceable Cell Phone (Consumable)
Chapter 2:
Cherepakha Compact (Vehicle) [18 Attack, 25 Defense]
Dossier on Dmitri (Consumable)
Chapter 3:
RU-7 .45 Pistol (Weapon) [25 Attack, 23 Defense]
Mafiya:
Chapter 1:
Concealable Camera (Consumable)
Untraceable Cell Phone (Consumable)
Chapter 2:
Molotok Pistol (Weapon) [22 Attack, 26 Defense]
Dossier on Dmitri (Consumable)
Chapter 3:
RU-7 .45 Pistol (Weapon) [25 Attack, 23 Defense]
Episode 2 - Boets
Collection: Dolls
Vault: +7 Energy
Re-vault: -20 Energy Cost boost
Mastery Item: Boss Karpov's Pistol (Weapon) [50 Attack, 38 Defense]
Vory:
Chapter 1:
Ballistic Knife (Weapon) [20 Attack, 28 Defense]
Chapter 2:
Set of Photos of Karpov (Consumable)
Severnyy Olen Snowbike (Vehicle) [32 Attack, 20 Defense]
Chapter 3:
PNV (Armor) [21 Attack, 31 Defense]
Mafiya:
Chapter 1:
Ballistic Knife (Weapon) [20 Attack, 28 Defense]
Chapter 2:
Set of Photos of Karpov (Consumable)
RAS-15 [30 Attack, 18 Defense]
Chapter 3:
PNV (Armor) [21 Attack, 31 Defense]
Episode 3 - Brigadir
Collection: Russian Leaders
Vault: +4 Attack
Re-vault: +60 Robbing Defense boost
Mastery Item: Ex-KGB Bodyguard (Armor) [48 Attack, 30 Defense]
Vory:
Chapter 1:
Armored Briefcase (Armor) [25 Attack, 36 Defense]
Chapter 2:
Bank Guard Uniform (Consumable)
Taiga Combat Shotgun (Weapon) [32 Attack, 20 Defense]
Chapter 3:
Shchuka Speed Boat (Vehicle) [36 Attack, 22 Defense]
Mafiya:
Chapter 1:
Armored Briefcase (Armor) [25 Attack, 36 Defense]
Chapter 2:
Bank Guard Uniform (Consumable)
Volk Luxury Sedan (Vehicle) [24 Attack, 36 Defense]
Chapter 3:
Shchuka Speed Boat (Vehicle) [36 Attack, 22 Defense]
Episode 4 - Avtoritet
Collection: Drinks
Vault: +4 Stamina
Re-vault: +40 Fighting Attack boost
Mastery Item: Cossack Armored Vest (Armor) [18 Attack, 48 Defense]
Vory:
Chapter 1:
Ru-78 Heavy Machine Gun (Weapon) [36 Attack, 12 Defense]
Chapter 2:
Officer Corps Paycheck (Consumable)
Shturmovik (Armor) [45 Attack, 28 Defense]
Chapter 3:
Razoritel Grenade Launcher (Weapon) [34 Attack, 15 Defense]
Mafiya:
Chapter 1:
Ru-78 Heavy Machine Gun (Weapon) [36 Attack, 12 Defense]
Chapter 2:
Officer Corps Paycheck (Consumable)
The Orel Armored Helicopter (Vehicle) [24 Attack, 40 Defense]
Chapter 3:
Razoritel Grenade Launcher (Weapon) [34 Attack, 15 Defense]
Episode 5 - Vor
Collection: Soviet Memorabilia
Vault: +10 Health
Re-vault: +46 Fight Defense boost
Mastery Item: ZPR Pulemut (Weapon) [28 Attack, 65 Defense]
Vory:
Chapter 1:
Arkticheskij Gus' (Vehicle) [22 Attack, 42 Defense]
Chapter 2:
Ubijca Assault Rifle (Weapon) [43 Attack,18 Defense]
Stick of Dynamite (Consumable)
Chapter 3:
Osa 17 Snowmobile (Vehicle) [38 Attack, 24 Defense]
Mafiya:
Chapter 1:
Arkticheskij Gus' (Vehicle) [22 Attack, 42 Defense]
Chapter 2:
Klyk-9 Machine Pistol (Weapon) [21 Attack, 43 Defense]
Stick of Dynamite (Consumable)
Chapter 3:
Osa 17 Snowmobile (vehicle) [38 Attack, 24 Defense]
Episode 6 - Pakhan
Collection: Faberge Egg
Vault: +8 Energy
Re-vault: -24 Energy Cost boost
Mastery Item: The Drakon (Vehicle) [54 Attack, 22 Defense]
Vory:
Chapter 1:
Executive Overcoat [22 Attack, 45 Defense]
Chapter 2:
Konstantin Cargo Carrier (Vehicle) [18 Attack, 44 Defense]
Mansion Details (Consumable)
Chapter 3:
Zoloto Sports Car (Vehicle) [43 Attack, 22 Defense]
Mafiya:
Chapter 1:
Executive Overcoat (Armor) [22 Attack, 45 Defense]
Chapter 2:
Zmeya Carbon Blade (Weapon) [28 Attack, 44 Defense]
Mansion Details (Consumable)
Chapter 3:
Zoloto Sports Car (Vehicle) [43 Attack, 22 Defense]
End Note: Best loot in the game now for Attack and Defense:
DEFENSE:
[Weapon]..Mafiya..E6C2 - Zmeya Carbon Blade (+9 better than Gaff Hook)
[Armor].....BOTH....E6C1 - Executive Overcoat (+9 better than ABC - Briefcase)
[Vehicle]...Vory.....E6C2 - Konstantine Cargo Carrier (+2 better than ASC)
ATTACK:
[Weapon]..Vory...E5C2 - Ubijca Assault Rifle (+1 better than Canonazo/TNT)
[Armor].....Vory...E4C2 - Shturmovik (+11 better than Guerilla Squad)
[Vehicle]...BOTH..E6C3 - Zoloto Sports Car (+6 better than Track Loader)
__________________
How To Find Consumables for Moscow Bosses
For Each Moscow Episode, you need special consumables to take down each Boss.
No matter what Episode you are trying to complete, these consumable-giving jobs always appear in the same location in the job list.
After you pick Vory or Mafiya in Chapter 2 and master that job, two new jobs appear beneath them. The bottom one (fourth job in Chapter 2) is always the one that provides the consumable.
So, in the job list for Chapter 2 in any Episode:
First job - Vory
Second job - Mafiya
Third job
Fourth job - Consumable for the Boss in that Episode.
Remember:
If a loot bag icon appears next to the money and XP gain you receive for a job, that means that the job sometimes gives SPECIFIC loot. If you move you mouse over that icon, a note appears on your screen telling you what loot you will get. This works in any city.
Collection pieces are awarded randomly, on any job, with a loot icon or not. This also works in every city.
__________________
This weeks scammers...
Nat Jones
John Owen Bautista Cabuyadao/Don Weakling
David Simpson/Cooksy
Thamas Johas [Cx] Arch Angel
Ernie Bruce
Eric Drawen/Protector
HappY*HolidaYs Everyone!!
Be Safe and Enjoy...
