Posted on 12/09/2007 5:33:02 PM PST by DogByte6RER
Warning sounded over 'flirting robots'
by Ina Fried
Those entering online dating forums risk having more than their hearts stolen.
A program that can mimic online flirtation and then extract personal information from its unsuspecting conversation partners is making the rounds in Russian chat forums, according to security software firm PC Tools.
The artificial intelligence of CyberLover's automated chats is good enough that victims have a tough time distinguishing the "bot" from a real potential suitor, PC Tools said. The software can work quickly too, establishing up to 10 relationships in 30 minutes, PC Tools said. It compiles a report on every person it meets complete with name, contact information, and photos.
"As a tool that can be used by hackers to conduct identity fraud, CyberLover demonstrates an unprecedented level of social engineering," PC Tools senior malware analyst Sergei Shevchenko said in a statement.
Among CyberLover's creepy features is its ability to offer a range of different profiles from "romantic lover" to "sexual predator." It can also lead victims to a "personal" Web site, which could be used to deliver malware, PC Tools said.
Although the program is currently targeting Russian Web sites, PC Tools is urging people in chat rooms and social networks elsewhere to be on the alert for such attacks. Their recommendations amount to just good sense in general, such as avoiding giving out personal information and using an alias when chatting online. The software company believes that CyberLover's creators plan to make it available worldwide in February.
Robot chatters are just one type of social-engineering attack that uses trickery rather than a software flaw to access victim's valuable information. Such attacks have been on the rise and are predicted to continue to grow.
Update 4:10 p.m. PST: Mike Greene, vice president of product strategy at PC Tools, said that the company learned of CyberLover's existence earlier this week as part of its regular monitoring of IRC chat rooms and other places where talk about malware takes place.
Greene said that it is hard to tell how prevalent use of the program is in Russia.
"We don't have exact statistics, but I think it's early on," he said.
Greene said that the perceived anonymity of the Internet has desensitized people to the fact that information disclosed in an online chat can cause real-world damage.
"People are used to not opening attachments or maybe not clicking on a link that shows up in their IM," he said. "But this emulates a real conversation, so you more are likely to give over personal information, click on a link or send your photograph."
It's funny to think that all of those online Russian mail order brides could very well be chatting it up with "CyberLover" instead of their mark...er, I mean prospective husband.
This is a screenshot of Russian program CyberLover, an automated software tool that can mimic online chatting and aims to flirt with people and then steal their personal information. The program is shown here, along with translations provided by PC Tools, which is warning of the program's existence. Credit: PC Tools
ping
what’s your take on flirting robots online?
I must be missing something here. Is the robot cute, or not?
Vat's Yoor Kredit Kard nahomboor Babushka?
Rasputin lives!
Thanks for reminding me of that fossil - buried int he recesses assigned to my earliest TV viewing. Bob Cummings got all the chicks back then.
Ping! :-)
Ooops - DogByte6RER beat me to the ping!
ho-bots
Robot whore - This one is for Bender....
Bringing new meaning to the term “denial of service”.
This isnt funny. Someone stole my ID, but when they saw what they got, they returned it with a note saying they were sorry.They even offered to set me up with a new ID just because...such nice people those russians.
everyone online is a guy.
Wow, I guess I should not have given my SS# and bank account info in the chat room.
Yes, you should only give out that info to Nigerians.
Nice thing about girlbot whores is that I can swipe my credit card instead of using cash.
The Helen Thomas of Robots......
a webcam solves the bot dilemma......software can’t appear on webcam live.......
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.