Facebook+and+McAfee

By Athena Fochios
//Just when you thought your computer was safe, think again. Cyber criminals have now started targeting social networking sites to steal identiites and implant viruses. Facebook is the one site hardest hit.//

With over 350 million users, Facebook is the most popular social networking site used. Since a lot of people frequently check their Facebook pages, hackers decided Facebook would be a perfect target. Cyber criminals went about infecting computers by placing fake apps for Facebook users to download. After downloading, the users computer was infected without them even realizing what had gone on.

When this epidemic hit Facebook hard, Facebook and McAfee teamed up to take these cyber criminals down. Facebook users are able to download the McAfee Internet Security Suite software for free for six months. After the six months is up, they will be able to purchase the same software at a discounted price.

This is a very smart move for Facebook. With the threat of viruses, people could become scared to use social networking sites. Also, Facebook will be backed with McAfee technology to pick up on threats put out by hackers. If the site picks up on one of these threats, it will take the proper steps to secure the person's computer. Facebook posted on their site, "Now, if your computer is infected, you will be asked to run a scan and clean it before accessing Facebook".

For now, the steps that Facebook is taking are working. They are giving their users confidence that Facebook is still a safe website to visit. But users be aware. I am sure hackers know this information too. It will probably only be a few weeks when someone will figure out how to get around all the McAfee security. Your best bet is to do the following: If you use common sense and follow the steps above, your computer will be safe.
 * Do not accept any freind requests from strangers
 * Do not download any apps that seem "fishy"
 * Do not open messages from people you don't know
 * Do not click on any links posted on Facebook

[| Press Release]
01.13.2010 [|Facebook and McAfee Partner to Make the Internet More Secure]