April Fools’ Day is a time of mirth, jokes and tricks. It has also been a day when cyber-criminals have used jokes as a way to get into your computer – the April Fool Threat.
Funny stories always do the rounds in the press such as chickens laying square eggs complete with pictures and the Queen setting up a fracking rig in the grounds of Buckingham Place. Famous April fools’ jokes of the past including the Spaghetti Trees, or Alabama changing the value of Pi – even the BBC got in on the action back in 1965, claiming to have developed a ‘smellovision’ tv technology!
Don’t get caught out by an April Fool Threat, Virus or Trojan!
But in a word to the wise, as a ‘calendar day’ April Fools’ Day has also used by online tricksters. It is a day when things that might seem ‘out of the ordinary’ are used to get you to click on links, and visit web pages that you might otherwise not click on.
You may find that you discover some of the funny, or not so funny viruses. The day itself has been used to trick unwary computer users in the past – so please think twice before clicking on that link – you need to keep yourself safe!
It’s been some time since we’ve seen any large viral infection attributed to April Fools’ Day specifically but that said it doesn’t mean it isn’t going to happen. In the past viruses have even had their payload delivered on April Fools’ day – such as Conficker 2.0.
Many cyber villains link their attacks to ‘calendar’ day such as Aprils’ Fool or Christmas because it increases their chance of success. This is basic social engineering – and if you think there is a link from a friend on facebook, or other social media, and that you’re going to be entertained, there is an increased risk that you may click on the link. Are you sure that the link doesn’t lead you to a threat??