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Facebook Widget Installs Zango Spyware
BaCa writes "A malicious Facebook Widget actively spreading on the social networking site ultimately prompts users to install the infamous "Zango" adware/spyware. The tremendous success and lightning fast expansion of Facebook empowered the social networking giant with an impressive user base. Needless to say, in a digital world where web traffic equals money, such a user base attracts spammers, virus/spyware seeders, and other ethic-less online marketers like honey would attract flies."
I tried to run it from the Facebook link in my sandbox, it wouldn't take. Looks like admin privileges are a requirement. I guess it's not surprising people aren't following the basic security steps that (even) Microsoft recommends.
Interested in open source engine management for your Subaru?
Facebook have already blocked it, days ago...
The widget in question (according to TFA) is "Secret Crush". The app asks you to complete several steps, including signing up 5 of your friends and installing a tray applet (containing the "infamous "Zango" adware/spyware") from Zango's site.
According to "blog.zango.com" (found by a google search "facebook widget zango") the widget is now called "My Admirer".
Facebook is going to hell in a handbasket. They should never have opened to "anyone with an email address"; that's just asking for trouble. At least they're making money, right?
Actually, the purpose of Facebook is to not only find friends, but to allow you to communicate with them more easily.
Facebook's core feature is the 'news feed', which basically shows what your friends have been doing on facebook, or what they've set their status to be, a little like twitter. Here's a snippet from mine:
Guy A started playing a game: Mass Effect
Girl A misses Guy A.
Girl B left the group The American Sandwich Society.
Guy B and Guy C are now friends.
Girl C is no longer listed as single.
It also allows you to create events and invite people, allowing them to RSVP through facebook. Considering it has everyone's information, it's also a very, very handy way to have up-to-date contact information, notifying me of address changes, cell phone numbers, and the like. As a college student, everyone I know uses facebook, making it a valuable networking tool.
"Joy is contagious," he said, peering into the microscope.
Sorry, no. The purpose of Facebook is to make money.
https://www.facebook.com/digitizeicm -- Show your support for the digitization of the Iron County Miner newspaper archiv
People with Firefox can install the "stylish" extension (for controlling CSS), and, along with the "De-MySpacify" script, block all appearances of facebook apps in their browser. ( http://userstyles.org/styles/3681 ). It's about 15 lines long and incredibly helpful (not to mention aptly-named).