Facebook Porn Spam Attack: How to Protect Yourself

Many Facebook users take up been inundated with pornographic junk e-mail in their newsfeeds as break of a malware take the field targeting the social network. The company told the BBC it has identified the culprit and exposure that was exploited, only is asking users to stay vigilant.

Facebook says it has quarantined the malicious accounts and pages behind the attack, but it also offered some simple tips to help users safeguard themselves in the approaching. Facebook says:

Preceptor't ever copy and paste code into your web browser's address barricade unless you're confident the source is legit.
Make destined your web browser is busy date.
Report anything weird that you see on Facebook using the "report" golf links throughout the multi-ethnic network.

If you suspect that malware has already gotten a hold of your Facebook account, operating room if you're seeing unwanted junk e-mail, there are three needled steps to attempt to make your history secured once more:

Change your parole. This rear be through by visiting your account settings. Be sure to function a potent password with a mix of numbers, symbols, Washington and lowercase letters and no lexicon words if possible.
While you're in your settings, remove any unwanted Facebook apps. This could be the culprit, or the malware could have installed an app without your knowledge.
Run a computer virus and malware scan along your entire system.

Thither are as wel plenty of tertiary-party products designed specifically to ensure secure time-wasting on Facebook and otherwise social networks. One much offering is BitDefender's SafeGo, which PCWorld's Tony Thomas Bradley recently profiled. The SafeGo Facebook App protects against malware, spam and scams. Other products like Defensio cater similar services, with more robust, paid versions available for businesses.

Finally, as ever, a bit bit of common sense can go down a long fashio online. If something that pops up on your Wall, Word Feed or in a message seems distrustful or too goodness to represent veracious, it probably is. Arrive at "news report" to be safe, Beaver State just ignore information technology and get back to studying photos of your friends' cats.

Follow Eric on Twitter , and at ericmack.org . Follow PCWorld on Twitter , as well.

Distinction: When you buy in something after clicking links in our articles, we may realize a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for to a greater extent details.