14 DAY TRIAL // Spam emails are being utilized to spread the latest “Timeline removal” scheme. The messages claim that Facebook customers can get rid of the Timeline by installing a web browser add-on.
The introduction of the Timeline on Facebook has caused a lot of controversy, many users stating their disappointment in regard to the new layout. This has generated a large number of scams that advertise ways of restoring social media accounts to their old appearance.
According to Sophos, the latest of these plots starts with an email that presents the recipient with a big “I wanna get rid of it now” button.
If the user clicks on it, he/she is taken to a website recently registered in Turkey, which further advertises the miracle remover add-on that works for both Chrome and Firefox.
The actual add-ons are still being analyzed by Sophos experts so it’s not clear what they’re designed to accomplish, but judging by the fact that potential victims are advised to install the component only after logging in to their Facebook account, it’s highly plausible that the so-called Timeline remover makes posts on the user’s behalf, advertising shady sites.
Another thing that’s worth noting is the fact that the software’s terms of use page recommends that only residents of Turkey install the plugin. This may indicate the presence of a phishing scheme that targets only Turkish accounts.
Timeline scams are not a novelty and until Facebook members accept the idea that the new layout is not going to disappear, we’ll probably see a lot of them. We’ll try to cover all of the new plots in case someone is thinking “This looks legitimate. Maybe Facebook does offer an official way of getting rid of Timeline.”
In the meantime, everyone is advised to steer clear of shady emails, suspicious-looking links, and posts that advertise plugins or other pieces of software.