Virus en Facebook

About that Alleged Fan Check Application Virus on Facebook

Monday September 14, 2009

A rumor circulating among Facebook users claims the popular third-party application Fan Check should be avoided because it allegedly downloads a virus to your computer. Here's an example:

We've received tips about a Facebook application called Fan Check; reports say this application is actually a virus, and should be avoided at all costs.

The first thing you need to know is that this has NOT been confirmed as true. According to the developer of the software, Fan Check is a safe, legitimate Facebook app that doesn't require the downloading of anything other than Adobe Flash. No evidence to the contrary has surface so far, according to antivirus software vendor Sophos.

The second thing you need to know is that searching Google or Yahoo for information on the supposed "Fan Check virus" may land you on a website that does download malicious code to your computer, so beware.

"Facebook fans who use search engines for confirmation are being directed to websites infected with fake anti-virus software that puts their PCs and laptops in danger and risk having their personal financial details stolen," warns Sophos.com. "Once directed to a malicious website, bogus anti-virus software is planted onto your system and is designed to defraud you and take over your computer."

To sum up, the Fan Check application itself is probably safe; going to websites promising protection from the alleged "Fan Check virus" probably isn't.