Unwanted game requests from acquaintances aren’t the only things you have to worry about as a Facebook user these days. One pesky concern is Malware. Malware is an umbrella term used to refer to a variety of forms of hostile or intrusive software. In attempt to steal personal information from your Facebook account deceitful tagging is utilized.
Here’s how it works; you would receive a notification claiming a friend has tagged you in a video. You may see that several other friends are also tagged. As soon as you click to view the video, it will prompt you to download a flash player before you can proceed. If downloaded, the Malware can take over your Facebook account and carry out the same trick on any of your unsuspecting Facebook friends.
The Better Business Bureau has some tips to follow in order to avoid having personal information compromised. First off, stay away from promotions that say exclusive, shocking or sensational footage. If you suspect a video you’ve been tagged in by a friend is faulty, try contacting them through another means to confirm the legitimacy of the post. Be cautious of shortened links because link shortening may be used as a disguise to malicious links. Don’t trust FB friend’s online habits. There is a chance they may have not actually “liked” anything and may also be a victim of a hacked account.
If your account has been hacked, contact Facebook. The Facebook Help Center page offers remedies to several potential problems.
