Nothing starts the week off right like all your friends screaming nonsense via Facebook. You know, something like this:
ATTENTION: THE HACKERS ARE PUTTING SEXUAL VIDEOS TO YOUR NAME IN THE WALLS / PROFILES OF YOUR FRIENDS WITHOUT YOU KNOWING IT. YOU DONT SEE IT, BUT OTHER PEOPLE CAN SEE IT, AS IF THESE WERE A PUBLICATION THAT YOU MADE! ALSO, THEY'RE SENDING INBOX MSGS TO YOUR FRIENDS ASKING YOU TO CLICK A LINK. DON'T DO IT!! SO IF YOU RECEIVE SOMETHING FROM ME ABOUT A VIDEO OR A STRANGE INBOX MESSAGE, IT'S NOT ME! COPY THIS TO YOUR WALL. IT IS FOR THE SECURITY OF YOUR OWN IMAGE!!! And REPORT IT!!!!! ALSO IF U ARE ASKED TO VOTE ON A PICTURE. DO NOT GO & VOTE: IT'S A HACKER!! POST THIS TO YOUR WALL FOR YOUR FRIENDS!!
This hoax — which seems to be resurging after a viral run in late September — isn't tied to a clickjacking scam. Clickjacking occurs when you click a scam link that then posts the same scam link to the walls of everyone you know on Facebook. That's not what's happening here. Instead, Facebook users are cutting and pasting this warning on their Facebook status because another Facebook status told them too.
If that's you, cut it out.
Both Snopes — the hoax-debunking website you need to add to your Favorites browser bar immediately — and Sophos Security haven't found any evidence that hackers are able to prevent you from seeing content they've posted using your name, as the screaming status (above) claims. Of course, if you've clicked on a clickjacking scam — Justin Bieber punching some girl, that thing that girl's dad did that you won't believe, that thing about not having respect for Miley Cyrus, etc. — that same spammy link will crap up the walls of all your friends. But you will always be able to see the damage you've done.
Sophos confirms:
Yes, scammers have often posted thumbnails of what appear to be pornographic videos to compromised Facebook users' walls, but we have never seen any incidents where the post was *invisible* to the user.
Whether you're more culpable for clicking on a link that spams your Facebook friends, or actively cutting and pasting hoaxes under your own steam is a discussion to be decided by the ages. A CAPS LOCK status update may not spread malware, but it does spread ignorance as well as clog up paths of communication. Also, it's annoying.
In review, here are some things we can safely assume you won't see via Facebook: Osama bin Laden's corpse, that video of that thing Justin Bieber did to that girl or what happened when that girl's dad walked in on her, an app that reveals who has been looking at your profile or what you'll look like when you're old, and an authentic message from Facebook WRITTEN IN CAPS LOCK.
If you do fall victim to actual clickjacking — hey you're only human — here's what to do:
- Remove any content the rogue app may have posted on your Facebook wall.
- Go to the Account Settings drop-down menu in the upper right side of your screen.
- From the Account Settings drop-down menu, choose Privacy Settings.
- On the bottom right side of the Privacy Settings Page, click the Apps & websites link "Edit your settings."
- On the App page, next to "Apps you use," select edit settings.
- There you will see the third-party apps that have access to your Facebook profile. Delete any rogue applications. (It's a good idea to check this setting regularly, anyway.)
- Now, send an apology to all your Facebook friends who may have been tagged, and advise them to do the same.
Hat tip to Julissa McHugh for spotting this hoax's return.
More on the annoying way we live now:
- Pug smarter than tech blogger, spots spoof
- Fidel Castro's niece trolled in Twitter debut
- Adultery website encourages cheating on your fat wife
Helen A.S. Popkin goes blah blah blah about the Internet. Tell her to get a real job on Twitter and/or Facebook. Also, Google+.