Getting rid of a Facebook Virus involves two things: Changing your password to something more complex, and also checking for any apps that may have been allowed access to your account. This article explains how to prevent Facebook viruses, and how to get rid of them.
Facebook viruses have been around for a while, but lately they’ve been cropping up even more frequently. You get a Facebook virus when you click on a link that installs malicious code and finds out your password, or if you have allowed a bad application to access your account. The links most people click on come from e-mails that supposedly go to your Facebook profile, or allow you to watch a video of something “you won’t believe!”. Just don’t click on links from your e-mail or connect some crazy game to your Facebook profile.
If you have been infected with a Facebook Virus:
The first thing you have to do when you discover you have a Facebook virus is change your Facebook password. Here’s how:
- Log in to your Facebook book account.
- Click Account > Account Settings.
- The My Account page appears.
- Click the Change link next to Password.
- Three text boxes appear.
- Type your current password into the Old Password text box.
- Type a new password into the New Password text box.
- Re-type the new password into the Confirm Password text box.
- Click the Change Password button.
Once you’ve changed your password, write a status update alerting your friends that you clicked on a bad link and had a Facebook virus. Tell your friends not to click on any links that appear to be from you (then refrain from posting any links for a while so people don’t worry about which links are good or bad). If you know specific people received a viral link from you, head over to their Facebook Wall and delete the message from you if you can and let your friend know not to click on the link.
Finally, check to be sure the application isn’t lurking on your account.
It’s probably not, but it’s good to be sure and now is a good time to clean out the apps you’re not using any more anyway. To check the apps connected to your account, follow these instructions:
- Go to Account > Privacy Settings.
- The Choose Your Privacy Settings page appears. At the bottom of the page is a header called Apps and Websites.
- Click the Edit your Settings link under Apps and Websites.
- The Apps, Games, and Websites page comes up.
- Click the top Edit Settings button (by Apps You Use).
- The Apps You Use page comes up listing all the apps you’ve allowed to have access to your account.
- Go through the list and be sure you know each and every one of the apps.
- If you’re unsure if the app is trusted or if you want to remove an app:
- Click the Edit Settings button next to the app.
- Click the Remove App link.
How Do I Know If a Link Is a Facebook Virus?
One way to avoid getting a dreaded virus is to pay attention. Before you click on a link, consider the source. Is this the type of link this friend usually shares? If not, don’t click. If you’re tempted to click, first hover your mouse over the link and look in the lower left corner of your browser. You’ll see the URL attached to that link. If it’s not a URL you’re familiar with, don’t click the link. If you see .info in the link, I suggest not clicking the link.
For more information on how to
