Rumored Fan Check Virus Scares Facebook Users
"Net-Worm.Win32.Koobface.a spreads when a user accesses his/her MySpace account. The worm creates a range of commentaries to friends' accounts. Net-Worm.Win32.Koobface.b, which targets Facebook users, creates spam messages and sends them to the infected users' friends via the Facebook site. The messages and comments include texts such as Paris Hilton Tosses Dwarf On The Street; Examiners Caught Downloading Grades From The Internet; Hello; You must see it!!! LOL. My friend catched you on hidden cam; Is it really celebrity? Funny Moments and many others."
As a Facebook user, it's important to remember not to open suspicious links, even if they are from "friends." I've had problems in the past with hackers using my friends' accounts to spam or to send viruses. One of the current links is to a YouTube video and a message asking the users to update to the latest version of Flash Player. By clicking, the user will have effectively downloaded a worm.
Fan Check Virus Scares Facebook Users: The Fan Check Application
Facebook users who added the Fan Check application may find themselves especially vulnerable. The Fan Check application tells you which of your friends are your biggest fans. It compiles data by accessing your wall and your news feed (already a bit creepy from a privacy standpoint, but Facebook users are aware of this when they add the application).
The plot thickens when users are taken to a message saying that the Fan Check application is down because the developer is in the process of adding new features. Fan Checker then invites the user to become a "fan" of the application. According to Soft Sailor, becoming a "fan" will cause the Fan Checker to infect your Facebook account, email your your friends telling them to become fans, and infect their accounts as well. I can't verify whether or not it's true as I fortunately didn't choose to become a "fan" of the checker.
I was a little worried after receiving Facebook messages from my friends warning me about viruses. Although I (and a few of my friends) did add the Fan Checker a few days ago, I quickly deleted it and ran a Kaspersky scan on my hard drive. Hopefully, I dodged a bullet.
For now, the best way to protect yourself is to use common sense. Now I'm more careful about which applications I accept and which links I click on. It is also important not to install any security software unless you are sure that it comes from a reputable source.
Sources:
Kaspersky Lab Detects New Worms Attacking MySpace and Facebook, Kaspersky Lab
FaceBook Fan Check Virus Already Infected A Lot Of Users, Soft Sailor
Published by Tina Molly Lang - Featured Contributor in Arts & Entertainment and Lifestyle
Tina Molly Lang is a violinist, violin, piano, and voice teacher. She is also an active writer. Her work has been published in The American Thinker, Active Americans, Yahoo's OMG! and Yahoo News. View profile
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11 Comments
Post a CommentI added the app and I have recently deleted it from my apps list but I can't seem to untag myself from the photos that my friends have tagged me. Does anyone know how to untag photos?
Gee...thank you for sharing this very important info with us.
Gee...thank you for sharing this very important info with us.
I ADDED THIS AND MY COMPUTER CRASHED. IT COULDNT BE FIXED SO HAD 2 BUY A NEW ONE.. I WOULDNT ADD ANYTHING ON FACEBOOK AS ALL YOUR PERSONAL INFO IN ON THERE
Excellent information. No, I'm not a fan of the Fan Checker. Thanks for the heads up since I'm a Facebook user.
Just make sure the stupid app doesn't somehow sneak into your Applications list. You can find out by clicking on Applications on the bottom left corner, click on Edit Applications and see if it's not sitting prettily among your list of apps. Remove it by clicking X.
Thanks, Mona. Come to think of it, my news feeds have been a little off since I my friends and I added Fan Check. I deleted the app and ran a Kaspersky scan, but it seems Kaspersky is still investigating the situation. I'll post an update if I hear anything from FB or Kaspersky.
Mona- exact same problem. I made sure I didnt have it installed (i just viewed a page of a friend who had it and had tagged a pic of me in the app) and untagged myself, but my news feed is still screwed and I cant find anyway to fix it. Any solution you found?
I think I know what this Fan Check thing does to FB users other than tricking unsuspecting users to hit on malicious websites. I've noticed that ever since I was tagged by friends who tried out the Fan Check app, I keep getting old feeds on my FB feed, that dated weeks ago. My friend who tried out the app reported the same issue. I could be wrong, but check your feed and see if you're experiencing the same thing.
Thanks, I'm not a fan either an I'm gonna delete the app now