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Fake Antivirus Software Spreads On Facebook
Doug Caverly
Staff Writer
2010-03-29
 Insider Reports RSS Feed
Marketers have determined in study after study that social networks are powerful things; a recommendation from a friend can be worth incalculably more than a bunch of random emails or even proper commercials. Facebook users should watch out, then, as a security firm's determined that fake antivirus software is on the loose.
 | | Fake Antivirus Software Spreads On Facebook |  |
Earlier today, F-Secure came across something labeled "Facebook AV." An official blog post explained, "Once installed on one Friend's account, this application tags 20 Friend[s] into a picture . . ." The application also appears to cause the first person to post a link and a phrase like "try this" beneath the picture.
Then when the person's friends investigate why they've been tagged and click on the link, they're asked to install the app, and the cycle begins again.
Fortunately, not much else seems to happen as a result; there have been no reports of credit card info getting stolen or computer screens going black. It's just the "social" nature of this problem that's annoying, and the possibility that victims will lose an online friend or two if they're perceived to be spammers or simply clueless.
Facebook's addressing the issue, at least. The F-Secure blog post stated, "Facebook is already in the process removing and preventing such rogue apps."
About the Author:
Doug is a staff writer for SecurityProNews, InternetFinancialNews, SearchNewz, and WebProNews.
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