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.
Read more:
• Controversial Facebook App Is Legitimate
• Fear of 'Facebook Fan Check Virus' Drives Users to Scareware
• Sophos: Searches About Fan Check App Can Lead to Malware
Comments
this is driving me crazy, even it wasn’t true as you say then why does facebook not send a message out it has got everyone’s e-mail
thing is so people have found virus’s on facebook,i don’t know the ins and outs but i have once been affected by a ” Lol funny video”
so i say one can’t be careful enough
WAIT!I think it DID infect MY computer! When I tried to do it, it took me to a DIFFERENT SITE and asked me over and over for my FB name and password…then my PC froze, I had to reboot and did a ck…I had 4 “hijackers” and 2 “pups” come up on my virus scan…Ive never even heard of a “hijacker”…?
could there be 2, one app and one virus of something?
Why would you even give another site your password and username. idiot.
Christine didn’t say she gave away her username and password. Maybe she was trying to click it away but it kept asking. Idiot.
I got a virus from a YouTube link in Facebook.
If you go to Snopes.com you will read that this is NOT, I said, “NOT” a virus. It is however, bad software application and will give you trouble viewing the page like it should be viewed. Go to Snopes.com and just type in “Fan Check” and two or three articles will come up for you! Have a great day!
I got a virus from a nasty woman !!
I can’t say anything about fancheck because i haven’t seen that one yet, BUT!, I can say
We’re Related” the email that you get to tell you that they found someone that you might be realted to, click that link and a Fake trojan will download, (Windowlive Onecare) grabed it for me and got rid of it,
Snopes saves the day. I think I dated the same woman.
I looked up the app. on facebook. Online dating? Sounds stupid. I pick up virus all the time and i have no idea where they come from. I asked people and the only there only suggestion is usually porn, which i don’t look up. I get pop ups all the time to which pisses me off caz i’m spose to have a pop up blocker. What really pisses me off on facebook lately is all the fake apps. and fan pages. Join to see this pic. or whatever. They never work.