Singer Katy Perry and ex-husband Russell Brand are being used as bait for a new worm making the rounds of social networking giant Facebook, a computer security firm warned.  Panda Security said the cyber-criminals behind this latest Facebook malware are attempting to turn users’ curiosity and interest in celebrities against them.
 
“Once again, user curiosity becomes cyber-criminals’ best ally. Scammers exploit people’s interest in celebrities to infect users. We have recently detected a new Facebook scam that uses a fake video of singer Katy Perry and ex-husband actor Russell Brand to trick users,” it said in a blog post.
 
It said a user who clicks on the link claiming to lead to the video will be taken to a fake Facebook page where he or she is invited to download a plug-in to watch the video.  Panda Security said the page shows more than 4,000 people have already clicked the “Like” button, which it said is used by the scammers to trick victims into believing that the video is legitimate.
 
“If the user tries to play the video, the worm will act differently depending on the browser used. If you use Firefox or Chrome, the worm installs a browser plug-in and uses it to post the scam to the victims’ friends’ pages. On Internet Explorer, the worm displays an age verification page to access an application called ‘X-Ray Scanner,’” it said.
 
But before the user can take further action, the browser takes them to a typical scam site where he or she is asked to enter his or her phone number.  Giving away the phone number may spell financial trouble for the user, who will start receiving unwanted premium rate text messages.
 
Panda Security offered tips on how to avoid falling victim to this type of scam:
 
Be wary of websites offering sensational videos or unusual stories.
Before you click on a link sent by one of your contacts, make sure it has been intentionally sent by your friend and it is not the result of a massive scam like this one.
Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know. This will help keep your privacy safe.
Always keep your computer’s operating system and Web browsers up to date, and make sure you have an up-to-date antivirus solution installed
 
If one may have fallen victim to the trap, Panda Security offered these tips:
 
Check your browser plug-ins and remove any suspicious ones.
Check the applications that have permission to access your Facebook account, and delete those you don’t know.
Change your Facebook account password. If you use the same credentials to sign in to other services as well, change them too. It is always better to take all necessary precautions.

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Katy Perry may be in the middle of a split with her soon-to-be ex-hubby Russell Brand, but the singer looks faboo! She was promoting her "Purr" perfume - so that's "purrfume" or "Perry-fume - in Manila in the Philippines. She was photographed with icy blue hair and wearing a brown Ted Baker dress festooned with ballerinas. Can we get one of those? The scent and the dress?

Teaming with Gigantic Parfums, Purr by Katy Perry is continuing to expand internationally. While Perry's second fragrance, Meow! by Katy Perry just launched in the United States. Katy Perry's fragrances are available at Nordstrom stores nationwide and www.Nordstrom.com in 1.7 and 3.4 fluid ounce bottles at a suggested retail price of $45.00 and $65.00, respectively.

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Divorce what? Hibernation served Katy Perry right. She was nowhere near the divorce-dealing, depressed ex-wife tabloids painted of the pop star who worried too much over “The One That Got Away” a.k.a Russell Brand.

In her 9th and 10th song, though, during her Jan. 22 Manila concert and the last of her “California Dreams Tour” at Mall of Asia Concert Grounds, Katy was most vulnerable belting her coarse but hands-down best vocals of the night in ballads “Not Like The Movies” and “The One That Got Away.” Fans saw Katy in near tears while closing the latter.

Katy, who avoided the spotlight since the holiday split, returned to Manila late Sunday. Armed with more hits this time compared to her 2009 Philippine show, Katy did not fire blanks and was on target hitting most of her screaming fanatics, mostly girls, bully’s eye.

While she still belongs to the eye-candy, pop-manicured lot most female artists are patterned after, she has enough hits to weave magic through two hours of money’s worth tickets. Imploring a video story layout that allowed her to change, Katy channeled her inner Barbie sucked in a fantasy world where Wonka’s candies supplied backdrop to her own Pepperland.

More than 25,000 fans (as Katy herself tallied via a pre-concert tweet) whose patience was tried (because Katy showed up past 10 p.m. when tickets said 8), came hard-wired for the outing singing to the hits that cemented the singer’s Billboard conquests. She started the concert with banner song “Teenage Dream” before #ManilaDream turned #ManilaNightmare since girls started falling asleep while waiting for the pop tart as it was way past bedtime. These very same little girls who slept the waiting off were wild awake jumping up and down during “Firework,” “California Girls” “Waking Up In Vegas” and the neatly-arranged, jazzed-up “I Kissed A Girl.”

Before “I Kissed A Girl,” Katy searched for a “boyfriend in Manila” and found a shirtless male model amongst the crowd whom she kissed as her way of realizing his dream. “I bet you’ve never kissed a pop star,” she said. The boy turned out to be Ivan Dorschner, a former housemate in PBB.

Critics have placed Perry’s talent and longevity somewhere between Kesha’s and Britney Spears’ or same level with gal pal Rihanna’s somewhere near Lady Gaga’s and farthest from current toast Adele’s. But when she sings less upbeat songs like “Not Like The Movies” or “Thinking Of You” (which was missing from the repertoire), fans find themselves peeling the blue wig and seeing through traffic-stopping outfits.

What’s left is an artist whose lyrics, admit or not, have camped their words, meanings, beats and catch on pop consciousness. After all, who doesn’t want to live, relive “Teenage Dream” and “never look back” or recall how “Hot ‘N’ Cold” gave a theme to indecisiveness of significant others.

Katy’s brand (no pun intended) of bedazzled pop-rock also brought all the set and costume stops. During “Hot N Cold,” she changed outfits at least 10 times. Song after song, Perry made sure it’s “Burlesque” meets “Moulin Rouge” meets “Enchanted,” even when the band drowned her vocals in some numbers.

If tab reports claiming a rattled Katy is worried over a memoir of sorts that her ex-hubby is reportedly about to come up with, the candy- coated outfits provided the singer enough armor to hide her personal struggles.

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Divorcing couple Kate Perry and Russell Brand came face to face last week, as they met up to discuss their break up. Any hopes of reconciliation look to be over, as the emotional meeting only confirmed that the marriage really is over.

“When Katy first saw Russ she said she could barely breathe as she felt a rush of emotions. She burst into tears, which really surprised her as she’d been trying to be strong,” a well-placed source tells heat (out now) exlusively. “He didn’t comfort her at all and she said his body language towards her was ‘extremely cold.’”

heat’s insider also reveals that Russell apologised to Katy for the break up, admitting to her that he was wrong to think that he could settle down,

“Russell admitted he was crushed by the split,” says the source. “Katy kept asking Russ why he would give up so easily. He said he should never have married her and that he fooled himself into believing that he could finally settle down. He apologised for everything and was extremely remorseful. Eventually Katy told him she had nothing left to say. Russell hugged her and left quite quickly. It was very strained.”We’re still sad that these two crazy kids couldn’t make it work.

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Katy Perry is cutting Russell Brand out of her life in more ways than one. The 27-year-old "Firework" singer has unfollowed her soon-to-be ex-husband on Twitter. As of Friday, Perry is still one of the 78 people Brand subscribes to via the social networking site.

It's not surprising, given that Perry is only communicating with Brand, 36, via phone or email. "She's limiting those interactions," a source tells the new issue of Us Weekly (out now). "He's being so atrocious that she feels like she never really knew him."

Perry has been keeping Brand off her mind by focusing on her career: she performed in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday, and she recently shot an Adidas ad in Santa Barbara, Calif. "She doesn't want to look battered and have people for sorry for her," a Perry source tells Us. "She's very strong and confident.

For much more on the couple's nasty split -- including Brand's plans for a tell-all book documenting his 14-month marriage to Perry -- pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, out now!

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Russell Brand refused a desperate plea by Katy Perry for a last attempt to save their marriage. The singer begged Russell to meet her in Los Angeles this week and suggested counselling instead of continuing divorce proceedings.

But the comedian, 36, told his wife they should move on from their 14-month marriage and stay friends. A source close to Firework singer Katy, 27, said: "Her girlfriends are apparently organising a 'newly single' party for her but she doesn't really like the idea. "She has been quite down. She really thought she could sort it out with Russell. "Even with the divorce papers being served she was convinced that a meeting could make him realise why they fell in love."Katy this week unfollowed her husband @rustyrockets on Twitter, though he continues to follow her account @katyperry.

Russell filed divorce papers in LA on December 30, citing irreconcilable differences. The Sunday Mirror told two weeks ago that it was Russell who started the proceedings. We revealed the previous week Russell was keen to settle down and have children but Katy didn’t want to become a “Hollywood housewife”.

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According to Gossip Cop, Perry, 27, has stopped following Brand on the micro-blogging website though Brand, 36, is still receiving Perry's tweets. The British comedian filed for divorce from Perry on December 30 after 14-months of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences."

But both Perry and Brand have made public theater this week, showing that they are doing fine in the wake of their split.  At a concert in Jakarta Thursday night Perry called a shirtless male fan onstage and planted a kiss on his cheek. She appeared pleased as the fan then kissed her back.

On Sunday, Brand stepped out for a Television Critics Association panel to promote his TV show, Strangely Uplifting, which will air on FX in April. When asked how he was doing, Brand responded, "Quite well, thank you. Are you asking because of recent events?"

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It's nice to see Katy Perry back in business. At her first show since husband Russell Brand filed for divorce, Perry was the usual life of the party—which, in this case meant multiple costume changes, elaborate sets and planting a kiss on a lucky male fan's cheek while performing at Sentul International Convention Centre in Jakarta, Indonesia.

And since he was shirtless, Perry took the opportunity to give the young man's chest a playful pat-down, too. Who wants to bet he liked it?

Though a bright-blue-haired Perry was photographed on the set of an Adidas commercial she was shooting last week, this was her first public appearance since acknowledging her split from Brand, who was busy promoting his new FX show at TCA last weekend.

"After 27 hours of flying (on an air bus, feels strange) I'm SO EXCITED to FINALLY be in INDONESIA! U guys have waited forever #timetodeliver," Perry tweeted on Tuesday, adding the following day, "This 15 hour time difference is AWESOME! #smackingmyselfintheface."

She wraps up her California Dreams Tour Sunday night in Manila, Philippines—but the party isn't over. Perry is nominated for two Grammy Awards, Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Solo Performance for "Firework."

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Katy Perry has formed a new partnership with The Sims, the computer/video game that simulates day-to-day life and somehow consumes your real one. Electronic Arts (EA) announced plans Tuesday “to develop multiple games within The Sims franchise featuring special Katy Perry themed in-game content and virtual goods.”

“I always like to think of myself as a cartoon, and now I’m a Sim,” Perry said in a press release. The first result of this collaboration will be an expansion pack for The Sims 3 Showtime — “Katy Perry Collector’s Edition” — released in March 2012.

Perry is no stranger to The Sim-iverse. She recorded her song “Hot and Cold” in Simlish — the language of the Sims, natch — for a Sims 2 expansion pack back in 2006. The video is the most popular of its kind, according to EA.

It hasn’t been an easy few weeks for Perry. She recently split with her husband of 14 months, Russell Brand. But now she’ll be very busy creating “accessories, clothing, hairstyles, furniture and props” for virtual people, as well as starring in ad campaigns for her Sims ventures.

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Any online gamer can own a piece of Katy Perry – or heck, even be her — with EA’s announcement that the “Teenage Dream” singer will be coming to their popular The Sims gaming series.

EA announced that they’ll be developing multiple games featuring Katy Perry including special in-game items, environments and virtual goods. Perry’s likeness will first pop-up in The Sims 3 Showtime: Katy Perry, a collectors’ edition of The Sims launching in March 2012.

The Sims is a role-playing game that lets players control an avatar as they go about their daily lives. Showtime is an expansion pack to The Sims 3 where players can try to turn their avatars into digital superstars including professional singers, acrobats, magicians or DJs.

The Katy Perry version of Showtime includes downloadable content such as hairstyles, props, guitars and even a stage venue all pulled from Perry’s life. Perry, who has always championed a positive, do-anything attitude, felt the series spoke to her own aspirational message:

“I love how you’re able to play out different stories through your Sims characters – giving them different careers and watching them succeed. It’s cool to see the Sims’ stage performances in The Sims 3 Showtime decked out just like my California Dreams Tour – even my cotton candy video screens are in there! I always like to think of myself as a cartoon, and now I’m a Sim!”

Of course the partnership isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, Perry will be featured in new advertising and marketing campaigns around her game and the series at large. The Sims have been doing gang-busters even without Perry. Since its launch in 2009, The Sims 3 has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and was the best-selling PC title for 2009 in North America and Europe. The franchise has expanded to Facebook where The Sims Social, released in 2011, attracted more than 50 million monthly active users in just its first month.

The Sims, as a series, has become a global gaming phenomenon. The Perry partnership is meant to continue that forward march while, presumably, attracting a younger, female demographic. Perry is also no stranger to The Sims. In 2008, Perry recorded a version of her hit song “Hot n Cold” in “Simlish,” the made up gibberish language spoken by Sims characters. The recording, featured The Sims 2 is the most popular Simlish music video to date: “Being a gamer myself and a big fan of The Sims, I had a blast recording “Hot N Cold’ in Simlish,” Perry said in 2008.

The Sims 3 is available on basically every gaming platform including PC, Mac, iOS devices, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Wii. The Sims 3 Showtime Katy Perry is available for pre-order for $39.99. Is the pairing a match made in heaven? Let us know what you think of celebrities showing up in your games.

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