BUCHAREST, ROMANIA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/16/12 -- A Google Chrome app that promises to change the color of Facebook accounts instead nabs authentication cookies and generates dozens of blogs registered to the victims' Gmail address, in a new scam analyzed by Bitdefender®, the leading global antivirus company.

Once the malicious app is installed from Google's Chrome Web Store, it starts displaying a large Google Ads banner redirecting users to a "work from home scam." When clicking the sign-up link, users are redirected to a fraudulent website.

"Scammers gave a new twist to the old change-your-Facebook-color scheme that's been luring users to fraudulent websites to grab credentials and other sensitive data," said Catalin Cosoi, chief security strategist, Bitdefender. "By creating dozens of blogs for a single account, the scam spreads like wildfire among Facebook friends."

The blogs generated under the e-mail address of the victims, which are used in further disseminating the scam, have registered a large number of hits among users in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Romania, and other countries.

The app can also post wall messages on the victims' account. The messages use friend tagging to convince the victim's friends to visit the blog domains. Each time the app posts on a users' timeline, it links to one of the auto-generated blogs to avoid blacklisting.

Bitdefender encourages users to use an antivirus solution and the free application Safego, which protects Facebook and Twitter accounts from scams, spam, malware and private data exposure.

About Bitdefender®

Bitdefender is the creator of one of the world's fastest and most effective lines of internationally certified internet security software. Since 2001, the company has been an industry pioneer, introducing and developing award-winning protection. Today, Bitdefender technology secures the digital experience of around 400 million home and corporate users across the globe.

Recently, the company won a range of key independent recommendations in the US, UK and across Europe, including ConsumerSearch, Stiftung Warentest and Taenk. Bitdefender antivirus technology has also finished top in leading industry tests from both AV Test and AV-Comparatives. More information about Bitdefender's antivirus products is available from the company's security solutions press room.