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Facebook widget spyware risk


Security experts are warning that an application that recently appeared on Facebook was actually a trick to get you to download spyware.


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A security firm has warned that a third-party Facebook application has been used to download spyware onto unsuspecting members' PCs.

The 'Crush' application can be added to Facebook users' profiles, supposedly telling them who has a crush on them and allowing them to inform other members of their own crushes.

However, according to Symantec, once added, it downloads spyware onto your PC.

Angela Thigpen of Symantec said: "Who hasn't gotten a little excited to know that someone has a crush on them? Signing in to Facebook, seeing that someone has sent you an invitation to find out who your secret crush is, you know you're going to want to find out who."

Symantec also said that people were too quick to install third-party applications in Facebook without considering the implications.

"Of course, you're going to accept and just skip right over the Secret Crush Terms of Service, you do it all the time and with that one click, you suddenly have the Zango adware/spyware application on your computer," Thigpen said.

The widget has reportedly now been removed from Facebook.

The attack uses similar tactics to malware recently seen in Russia known as 'Cyberlover', which targeted people using singles and dating websites.

www.symantec.com
www.facebook.com

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