How to Remove a Facebook Virus

Facebook is an extremely popular social website, but it is not immune to attacks. In fact, the hacks, viruses, sneaky redirects and fake links are becoming more and more popular everyday. Hackers take away your Facebook account in order to steal your friends addresses and spam them, or trick your Facebook buddies into to giving them financial information. Don't panic if it happens to you. Whether they hack your account and change your login, or place a virus on your Facebook page, you can recover your account.

If you've discovered strange photos, advertisements, articles, or links on your Facebook page, you may have been hacked. A phishing scam actually hacks into your account and spams your friends and other people from your account. Your buddies think it's recommendations sent or posted by you, and that's the entire strategy of the hackers. Follow these steps to reclaim your account.

First Step on Facebook Hacking: Try to Change Your Password

If you can log into your Facebook account, change your password. Hackers may have used a website that looked like Facebook and tricked you into logging into it. So, always change your password if you can.

Step Two: Run any Viral Software You Have on Your Computer

Scan your entire computer for any signs of a virus or malware on your computer system. Ensure that your antivirus software is up to date and is efficient enough to protect your computer.

Remove Suspicious Applications in Your Account

Login to Facebook

Go to the upper right hand corner drop-down menu and click on "Account Settings"

On the left hand side, click on "Apps"

Read through the list and remove the suspicious applications

You may have clicked on a viral link that was disguised as a Facebook Application. These rogue links are posted all the time to fool you into thinking it's useful and legitimate. There is a Facebook assistance page that can help you clean up your Facebook Apps.

If you cannot log into your account, most likely you have been hacked. Someone has claimed your account and has changed your password. You can still reclaim your account. First, visit the page that Facebook has created to Identify your account. The information the form will ask you for is your email and one or two names that you have included on your Facebook friends page.

If you have been hacked and you are still having difficulty logging in, and you have tried the Identify Your Account page on Facebook, go to Report Compromised Account and Facebook will take you through the steps to recover your account.

• Don't click on a strange or suspicious link
• Be aware of where you are and who's watching when you enter your password.
• Report any spam or abuse you see on discussion boards and your Facebook page walls.
• Don’t use the same password, and change it periodically on Facebook
• Use a different password than the one you use in other places on the web
• Never share or give your password to anyone
• Don’t open attachments in suspicious emails
• Always add security questions to keep your account safer

Make sure you have a good antivirus or malware program that runs daily and is up to date. Microsoft essentials does a good job and it is a free program if you don't have one. Also, free AVG is efficient and will keep your computer safe. Never click on any suspicious links, be careful when adding a "friend" on your account (it may be a virus), and change your password periodically to save yourself from being hacked.

Microsoft Essentials Free Download

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