According to the May 2011 report, the last month has been awash with malware attacks involving social networking sites, with Facebook survey scams baiting users with the promise of free flights, videos of bin Laden being killed and other topical hooks to lure users into downloading malware and rogue applications to their computers.
The analysis also found that internet users were also facing the continued threat of rogue anti-virus attacks around the web, including a fraudulent Brad Pitt fan club website.
Chris Boyd (aka Paperghost on Twitter), the firm's senior threat researcher, says that surveys have become an increasingly common tactic used to disguise a wide range of security threats lurking on Facebook and other social networking sites.
"Scammers also have improved their ability to immediately hijack high-profile news for their attacks. By exploiting breaking and developing news stories, they are catching users off guard", he said.
"Users should always be wary of promises of free items or sensational content, and they should never share personal and financial information online unless they are dealing directly with a known, trusted and secure website – not a Facebook or Twitter post claiming to represent a recognized business or organization", he added.
Delving into the GFI Software report reveals that online scammers are using a number of lures to entice victims to participate in their surveys. Offers of free merchandise are often enough to trick users into reposting messages to their Facebook wall, which then redirect their friends to the same surveys.
At best, says the analysis, anyone filling out the survey will be on the receiving end of high volumes of spam. At worst, any personal information they shared will be exploited by identity thieves, and their PCs will be infected with a broad range of malicious malware.