Hackers selling $25 toolkit to create malicious Facebook apps

Malicious hackers are selling a $25 toolkit to anyone interested in creating and distributing dangerous Facebook applications, according to researchers at Websense Security Labs.

The do-it-yourself toolkit offers a template for spreading malware, directing users to click-fraud accounts and for pushing Facebook users to bogus surveys to hijack personal information.

This commoditization of Facebook malware is further confirmation that social networks are a happy hunting ground for cyber-criminals looking to hijack personal data for use in identity theft attacks.

"The buyer doesn't have to have development experience with Facebook, he/she just needs to follow the accompanying instructions and a working viral Facebook application is at their disposal," the company explained.

Websense researchers have linked the toolkit, called TinieApp, to the recent "Profile Creeps" and "Creeper Tracker" rogue app attack that appeared on Facebook over the last week.

"This phenomenon of template Facebook applications like Tinie app shows how the spamming culture is consolidating more and more around Facebook, adapting to the platform and increasing what we call Web spam," Websense added.