One computer expert claimed malware was spreading like "wildfire" through the social network because people were too trusting.Many of the viruses don't infect a user's computer but redirect them to online surveys while also spamming their friends with junk messages.The more serious malware wreaks havoc and steals personal information.
Anti-virus software maker AVG Technologies claims it found 11,701 "compromised" web pages on Facebook in a recent survey.
Facebook spokesman Simon Axten said up to five million users could have been affected by malware.
"Security is an arms race, and our teams are always working to identify the next threat," Mr Axten said."Most of these defences are invisible to users, and while malicious actors are constantly attacking the site, what you see is actually a very small percentage of what's attempted."He said fewer than 1 per cent of all people who used Facebook had experienced a security issue.
But Rob Fewster, chief executive of anti-malware software company Eset, said the number was much higher because Facebook redirected users to external sites where they were infected.
"Facebook itself won't give you a virus if you use it properly," he said."But there are 500 million people on Facebook, if only 1 per cent click on your link that's five million people so the sheer size allows viruses to spread like wildfire."
Mr Fewster said he had seen more malware in the past six months than in the history of the internet and predicted virus creators would get so sophisticated they could target malware hidden in tailored messages sent to people based on information in their social profiles.
"My advice would be: beware of everyone and trust no one. If you get a message from your mother telling you to click on a link – ring her up and talk to her first," he said.
Paddy Krishnan, professor of computer science at Bond University, said Facebook-borne malware was no more dangerous, except it had the potential to spread faster.
0 comments:
Post a Comment