http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1158628/Facebook-hit-fifth-security-scare-week.html

Facebook hit by fifth security scare in a week

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:02 PM on 02nd March 2009

The social networking website Facebook has been hit by five separate security problems in a week, according to an internet safety advisor.

Cybercriminals are exploiting the trust implicit in the popular sharing site to spread nuisance spam and steal saleable data from users, Rik Ferguson from security firm Trend Micro said.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said having an open system was better than checking all the applications

Malicious applications are an effective way of spreading viruses. Currently, anyone can set up an application on Facebook that can be downloaded by members, without being checked.

Instead of giving access to a new game or useful software, the rogue applications fool users into downloading malware.

One application sent out notifications telling users that one of their friends had 'faced some errors' when checking their profile. A link to the supposed error message spread the fake posting instead.

Another application posted a notification on a user's profile that claimed one of their friends has reported them to Facebook for violating Terms of Service.

A link led to an application saying 'facebook - - closing down!!!' Once installed it sent a spam message to all the affected user's friends.

More than 1,000 angry users have joined a Facebook group for victims of the latest scam.

'Facebook should now apologise and should check all applications created for Facebook users before activating it on their website,' one furious member wrote in capital letters.

Security experts at Trend Micro have warned the applications can harvest personal information as they spread.

'Surely these two events in just a single week mean that it's about time that Facebook reviews its application hosting policy?' Mr Ferguson asked.

However, last week Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg rejected a call to vet all the applications showing up on the site.

'Our philosophy is that having an open system anyone can participate in is generally better,' he told Radio 1's Newsbeat.

A Facebook spokesman said members should remain vigilant and if they fell victim to one should visit the Facebook security pages for help.

A new variant of the Koobface virus is also affecting users alongside the rogue applications. It uses a spoof version of YouTube, to trick members into downloading malware onto their computers.

Once installed the program hunts for cookies on the victim's computer and uses relevant details to log into other social websites.

'This is not just restricted to Facebook, it's a growing trend,' Mr Ferguson warned.

Yeah seriously!  If you really wanna keep something private, message or text/call...don't put it on a facebook where all your "friends" can see.  When I post anything on facebook, I do it with the purpose of knowing that that information can be relayed to someone who is not my friend.  I know that risk and hence wouldn't post anything I would regret or wouldn't want by boss/family to see.  I actually did a paper on facebook.  I think these online social networks create many stalkers  

Yeah i used to try and be cautious on facebook too and also about the pictures i uploaded, but then i heard that the pics u put up on facebook get coppy writed by them, so they belong to the company. So i just stopped putting pics up.