Facebook Fraudsters Disseminating Bogus ‘Dislike’ Link

According to a warning by Facebook, an ongoing scam is presenting users an opportunity to add to their profiles what's called a 'dislike' option. NetworkWorld reports this on August 16, 2010.

The scam starts when a user allows it admission into his profile where a web-link and message are added. States the message that the writer has the dislike option therefore he can now dislike any dumb post sent to him.

Notably, the already present 'like' option on Facebook lets users give a rating to wall-posts and status updates along with comments coming into a profile. But the 'dislike' option isn't just another form of the 'like' option.

Says Sophos the security company, Facebook users who click a web-link -"Download the official DISLIKE button now," really get cheated into taking down malware, which uploads junk e-mails on their profiles. Moreover, the malware persuades the social networkers to fill out a questionnaire that eventually results in revenue for hackers.

Elaborated security researchers, these bogus activities lead to the theft of users' personal information that's then traded off to various interested parties. They also adversely influence the social networkers' friends.

Remarking about the problem, security expert Graham Cluley at Sophos stated that the scam was the most recent 'survey scam' amongst the many of its kind. It contained web-links leading onto a video supposedly displaying an anaconda emitting from its mouth a hippopotamus, he described. BBC published this on August 16, 2010.

Cluley further described that the message began with the words, 'OMG, shocking video.' Moreover, it seemed to be sent from the Facebook user's pal thereby making it endorsable, he added.

Meanwhile, according to Facebook authorities, work is on for deactivating the phony 'dislike' link. Besides, since Facebook doesn't formally feature any 'dislike' option, the company recommends that users avoid following the dubious web-links. Also, by clicking on the "application settings" via the 'account' link on Facebook's main page, the bogus 'dislike' software can be disabled.

And if the 'dislike' button appears on Facebook wall-posts then those posts have to be deleted from the profile page for preventing any further proliferation of the scam.

Related article: Facebook Users Should be Careful of a Computer Virus

» SPAMfighter News - 8/21/2010