Facebook releases security guide
By Joe Elvin
19/08/2011
Facebook has released a guide for how to avoid downloading malware on your computer via your social networking account.
The document titled "A Guide to Facebook Security" is available to read for free on the website and covers everything from phishing to recovering a hacked account.
The move comes after a number of viral scams were found to have infected the computers of Facebook users with malicious spyware.
In the report, co-authors Linda McCarthy, Keith Watson and Denise Weldon Siviy admitted that malware stored on Facebook was amongst some of the hardest to detect.
An extract featured on itpro.co.uk stated: "On Facebook, identifying scams is trickier since messages appear to be coming from people you know and trust.
"Unlike the insanely horrible email scams written in poor English by scammers, most of the fake Facebook login screens are pretty believable."
This would suggest that the best way to protect against such viruses is to invest in quality systems management software to monitor your network.
An article on pcworld.com has warned all users of social media to be familiar with the website's security settings before they share too much personal information.
It warned that many hackers have been using websites such as Facebook to steal personal information and use it for identity fraud.
