The Facebook dislike button scam

Despite strong demand from its users, the Facebook development team has stubbornly refused to introduce a 'dislike' button. While Facebook users can express approval of other users' content by clicking on a 'like' button, the company does not provide the opposing 'dislike' indicator. Spammers have now taken advantage of this with a fake dislike app that is spreading across user profiles like a worm.

Virus researchers warn that the fake application gains access to private profile settings. The Facebook security team has again stressed that users should avoid clicking on dodgy-looking links. The fake dislike button and similar applications spread via user status updates and, at first glance, look innocuous. If a user clicks on a link in a friend's status update and installs the application, it utilises a trick to post another status message containing the same link on the user's own profile.

The fake dislike app spreads spam messages via user profile status messages.

Spammers use similar tactics to exploit other desirable functions missing from Facebook. Fake apps for allowing users to see who has visited their profile crop up repeatedly. Facebook stresses that this functionality doesn't exist and that it is not possible for a third party application to offer this functionality.

See also:

• Security-conscious users consider quitting Facebook, a report from The H.
• Facebook introduces security measures, a report from The H.

(crve)