March 2, 2009 by James Oliver
Facebook users are being warned to display vigilance when it comes to using third party apps on the popular social networking site. The warning comes after hackers launched yet another programme specifically aimed at convincing users to give up their log in details.
The app in question is called ‘F a c e b o o k – closing down!!!’ and sends fake emails to all of your contacts claiming that they’ve been reported for violating the Facebook terms of service. They’re then obviously directed to click a link to find out why they were reported. Once you click the link, you give hackers access to your personal profile and information. As well as this, the message will be forwarded to all of your friends, some of whom will do the same as you and perpetuate the cycle.
The issue here is that Facebook allows absolutely anyone that wants to, to write an app and those apps are not vetted by anybody before they’re made available. This is how the social network is able to offer such an exciting range of applications. However, it’s also the door through which hackers can squeeze onto Facebook.
These applications may simply be the nature of the beast. However, this kind of publicity is the last thing Facebook needs right now.
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