We have all seen those annoying spam posts on our friend’s Facebook walls. Or gotten the apology/please don’t click on that/my account was hacked inbox message. These Facebook viruses are spread when a hacker gains control of another user’s Facebook account and starts blasting out spam to the their friend list. How does the hacker gain control? Well, they could have manually hijacked your password, or you could have clicked on a bad link. Or, you could have downloaded a “rouge app” by mistake. All finger pointing aside, if your Facebook has somehow been compromised, follow these steps to take to protect your data and stop annoying your friends:
First – Change your Password:
If someone jacked your password using a phishing scam, keylogger spyware, or the old “look over your shoulder method,” they could be using your account maliciously to spam your friends list with dangerous links. Simple way to put an end to this– Change your password. Make it strong and secure . Also, if you use the same password anywhere else, change that too. (It’s good practice to reset your passwords frequently anyways!)
Next Step – Remove Unused Apps:
A “Rouge App” could be the cause of your headaches. You may have unknowingly downloaded a malicious program posing as a Facebook app. Easiest way to clear this up– delete the apps you don’t use or that may look suspicious. Go to [Account -> Privacy Settings ->Apps and Websites: Edit Your Settings->Apps You Use: Edit Settings-> “Bad App”: Edit Settings ->Remove App]
The Final Step – Run a Virus Scan:
If you have up to date antivirus on your computer already, run the scan. If you’re a Fixed IT client, just submit a ticket or give us a call and we will take care of it for you. If you don’t have antivirus and you are not a FIT Client, download Malwarebytes (free version) and run the virus scan. Then, remove any malicious files.
The next blog will be on how to avoid picking up a Facebook virus in the first place.
