14 DAY TRIAL // F-Secure, a provider of security solutions, has announced that it is partnering up with Facebook to help users block and eradicate malware from their systems, without having to pay a dime.
“With F-Secure’s technology, Facebook will offer a browser-based malware scanner as a free service. The service will be available to Facebook users whose account has been temporarily frozen due to suspicious activity caused by a potential malware infection,” reads the announcement.
Since malware or unwanted software on computers can disrupt device performance, steal information, or gain access to a system, Facebook users and their friends can be put at risk through the posting of malicious links or spam that appear to come from legitimate user accounts.
“Helping people stay safe on Facebook is a hugely important part of what we do and we’re glad to be adding the strength of F-Secure’s anti-virus technology to our existing systems to block and eradicate malware,” said Chetan Gowda, software engineer at Facebook.
Considering how fast the social network has grown and how many more users it picks up every trimester, Facebook has managed to change how people interact with friends and family. “In turn, Facebook’s popularity has made it a major target for online criminals. We are pleased to partner with Facebook to stop cybercriminals from taking advantage of Facebook’s user base for malicious ends,” said Arto Saari, product manager at F-Secure.
The technology that will help users get rid of malware will be integrated into the Facebook user experience.
Basically, when Facebook identifies an account that behaves suspiciously, it will redirect the user to the cleanup process. The entire scanning process will take place directly in the browser window, in Facebook, which should minimize the users’ discomfort. Then, users can securely log back into their Facebook accounts, safe from danger.
It will also be possible to skip the malware removal process or download the recommended scanner, but the user will be prompted again at a later time.
Those who do download and run the scanner will be able to continue using Facebook and other services during the process.
This is quite a cool feature for Facebook to have, especially given the amount of malware being transmitted through the network. Friends with compromised computers often share messy links over private messages, putting less tech-savvy users in danger since they could click the link thinking it came from their friends, just like usual.