Delicate IT issue....

[lewic]

I'm on Facebook but dont use it much, work in IT so am paranoid about internet security but am a bit of a luddite, ie what is wrong with the phone if someone is really your mate...

However I have several Facebook friends (who are also real friends, but I dont see that often) who keep clicking on obvious scam links like "Say no to the 3.99 Facebook Fee", "verify your Facebook account" and "add a dislike button to your account". These apps/groups either ask you to copy and paste them some code or get them to install a dodgy app. I spend my time at work nailing down security issues and the scams seem pretty obvious to me. However my Facebook friends keep clicking on them no matter how many times I tell them how to spot a scam.

My dilemma now is do I carry on warning them or do I give up? I feel like I am the pisser on the bonfire, and my last few Facebook posts sound like a very annoying parent.........

[lewic]

[asbean]

I just ignore them, they'll soon get fed up with doing it.  I delete all the suggestions and requests.

[elvis2003]

you can switch them off you know,whenever you get a notification,*hover* to the top right hand corner of the notification box,and the word hide should appear,click on that and bing,theyre gone,good luck!

[Sparkly]

I don't add any applications on FB (Ant would have a heart attack because of the IT issues if I did LOL). Annoying sometimes because a "dislike" button would be great!

[SamLouise]

Lewic, as far as your good friends go, why don't you write a personal message and send it to them via email or FB and politely remind them that these things are scams, phishers, etc etc and follow it up with something like, 'now I've told you what these things really are, I cannot emphasise enough how much they should be avoided and for that reason, please do not link me/ask me/share with me etc etc because I will only block them'

That way you are giving them the benefit of your expertise but also telling them you want no part in their thingy ups if they decide to ignore your advice!  ;D

[lewic]

SamLouise, good advice! Spent several hours last week wiping one friends computer and reinstalling everything due to her boyfriend (one of the main Facebook offenders) sending her virus-infected e-cards and installing fake antivirus spyware (having disabled AVG as it he thought that was what was slowing the PC down)  ::) ::) ::)

[BarriedaleNick]

I can only second SamLouise - you just cannot tell some people so have your say and then forget it.  I gave up sending "That is a scam\fake" messages as people seemed to get shirty with me.  It's the same with fake virus warnings which people forward at work (im in IT too so they always get to me) to every single person in the address book.  When I tell them that it's not real and that the problem is in fact them (as they have just generated work and hundreds of emails chains) the get all upset.  You can't win - In the last two weeks I've cleaned two laptops and a PC of friends who went click happy.

[PurpleHeather]

It is surprising how many people believe everything they read.

I am always getting mail telling me that there is a virus going round which will make my computer fail. These all turn out to be 'Urban Myths'

Not only that but it seems no one seems to know the difference between CC and BCC.

I always use BCC unless I want the person I am sending my mail to, to know that I am also informing a third party. I also always delete the list of e-mail addresses I get because CC is being wrongly used instead of BCC when I forward mail.

A lot of these circulars which get sent round are just for information gathering.

With Facebook type messages. I delete them unopened then check the site directly, like you. I would never dream of using those 'sharing' sites. How many of them collect dates of birth? The most useful information there is for identity theft. I have a bogus one I use for anything other than official forms.  I would far rather waive birthday greetings than get my identity stolen.

[Squash64]

Not only that but it seems no one seems to know the difference between CC and BCC.

It's amazing how many people do this.  I get emails a mile long because nothing has been deleted.

I always check things with Snopes - but is that reliable enough?

[BarriedaleNick]

Not only that but it seems no one seems to know the difference between CC and BCC.

It's amazing how many people do this.  I get emails a mile long because nothing has been deleted.

I always check things with Snopes - but is that reliable enough?

Snopes is pretty good Squash - I'd trust it (but not with my life)!!

[timnsal]

The last few I got claimed to have been checked with Snopes.

Haven't had many since I put a rant in our parish mag a couple of months ago ... odd, that ;)

Sally

[emmy1978]

oh for heaven's sake!! I am forever telling my friends I won't sign up to "we refuse to pay for FB" and the countless other things they send me. If your friends won't listen to you when it's what you do for a living then I am going to utterly give up on mine.  ::)

I am not a huge FB fan-I like it as now I live far away from my friends it's a nice day to day way of snooping on their lives as if I was still in town-but you can't beat a phone call in the evening when the kids are in bed and you've got a glass of red in hand!  ;)