Author Topic: S/O urban legend - when a FB friend is spreading possibly harmful info  (Read 1434 times)

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SisJackson

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I'm talking about things like "The Real Dislike Button!!!!" and "Become a fan to get a quadrillion in-game dollars!!!"  The first is an application that one must permit to access one's information and friends list, the second being a scam to get members for whatever reason - they all say one will get whatever prize by becoming a fan and then inviting one's entire friends list - which doesn't even have the potential of working like the user hopes it will.

I am very wary of what the "developers" of these lists and applications are attempting to do (and I use the term "developers" very loosely here) and I want to protect my friends from themselves.  I haven't said anything except when one friend started using an application that said "Your Facebook account is in danger of being deleted - please reactivate your account by entering your email and password" - and she did, and then passed it on to all of her friends so we could ensure our accounts were safe.  Smelling a rat, I checked the app info, and lo and behold - not developed by Facebook.  I told her to immediately change her FB password so as to avoid getting hacked, and to report the app as being a potentially harmful phishing app.

When should I say something, and when should I keep my mouth shut?  I think my friends have the right to play Russian roulette with their own information if they choose not to play smart, but when (or how) should I help them become more savvy if they're open to the idea?

Animala

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Re: S/O urban legend - when a FB friend is spreading possibly harmful info
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2010, 01:33:16 PM »
The only time I say anything is when it is a friend who is technologically illertate.

Nurvingiel

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Re: S/O urban legend - when a FB friend is spreading possibly harmful info
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2010, 02:50:54 PM »
Two of my friends joined the "dislike button" group (or one of them anyway). I sent them each, separately, a nicely-worded note that I don't think it is really going to add a dislike button, but wouldn't it be cool if it did? I expressed my suspicions that it was malware.

They both sent back that it didn't work and they got rid of it, and didn't seem to mind my note.
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Sabbyfrog2

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Re: S/O urban legend - when a FB friend is spreading possibly harmful info
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2010, 03:35:27 PM »
I smelled a rat as soon as I saw that it asked me to invite all of my friends, but didn't give me the options to skip that part. Most legit facebook apps give you the option to skip right ahead to "results" or the desired app, this didn't. It seemed a little "off" to me too.

Nurvingiel

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Re: S/O urban legend - when a FB friend is spreading possibly harmful info
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2010, 07:28:14 PM »
I smelled a rat as soon as I saw that it asked me to invite all of my friends, but didn't give me the options to skip that part. Most All legit facebook apps give you the option to skip right ahead to "results" or the desired app, this didn't. It seemed a little "off" to me too.
Fixed that for you.  ;)

If you can't skip the invites, it's not on the up and up. It might not be malware or something super nasty, but it is at best trying to trick people into spamming their friends list in order to gain new members.
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Amava

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Re: S/O urban legend - when a FB friend is spreading possibly harmful info
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2010, 07:47:32 PM »
If it is something that could harm their computer, their account or their personal data, I would not hesitate to let them know in a polite way.
Or if you don't want to say anything personal you can always post something in your status like: "Everyone beware of xyz application, it is a scam!" or something in that spirit.