Facebook rebuts ZoneAlarm virus claims

Note: ZoneAlarm has issued a correction to their original claims. This blog has been edited to reflect the changes.

—–

What do Facebook and porn sites have in common? They can expose users to malware.

Facebook users are targeted, according to this ZoneAlarm logo.

Web security company ZoneAlarm said initially that 20 percent of Facebook newsfeed links open a computer virus, but later changed it’s infographic to say 20 percent of Facebook users are exposed to malware. That’s a pretty big change.

As I said in my original post, I don’t think it’s possible that 1 in 5 Facebook links are infected. People would be leaving Facebook in droves.

I use Facebook extensively when I should be working, and I’ve never had a problem and I use Windows XP, not the safest OS on the planet. Mac and Linux users are much safer, since most viruses are written to exploit infamous Windows exploits.

ZoneAlarm also said 600,000 Facebook users are compromised each day, which sounds like a pandemic. Of course, ZoneAlarm is trying to sell web security products, so maybe we should take their data with a lick of salt.

CNET dug a little deeper and it seems ZoneAlarm’s numbers are not accurate.

“While we welcome all responsible third-party research, ZoneAlarm, as with all AV Vendors, have the incentive to exaggerate threats on FB and we just want to ensure that all information is factual,” said a Facebook spokesperson in an email.

* Protect yourself against online scams at Facecrooks.