Virus That Steals Facebook Passwords

- May 08, 2019

Virus That Steals Facebook Passwords

by Melly Parker

A strong password has at least eight characters and mixes letters, numbers and symbols.

Facebook is one place where you interact with clients -- someone gaining access to your Facebook password and signing onto the site to pose as you could damage the reputation of your business and even expose some of your clients to a malicious user. Keep your password safe and change it regularly to protect your privacy and your page.

Trojans and Viruses

Trojans are a type of malware that, at first, look like normal webpages or emails. However, interacting with them gives an attacker access to your computer -- including your Facebook password. A trojan that lets someone else access your files, passwords and activity is called a backdoor, according to Kaspersky. (See Reference 3) Viruses, on the other hand, are installed on your computer as files, either from external devices or webpages.

Keyloggers

If a keylogger is installed on your computer, the person with access to the keylogger can get your Facebook password. A keylogger makes a record of every key you press on a computer; the keystrokes are uploaded to a file that can be accessed either on your computer or remotely, in some cases. If you type in your Facebook password while you're being keylogged, it will be saved in the file.

Past Incidents

In 2010, a virus that stole Facebook passwords was sent to some users with a subject line that read "Facebook password reset confirmation customer support," according to Reuters. (See Reference 1) Zeus, a piece of malware that steals passwords and has hacked Facebook accounts, has been affecting users since 2007. There's no report available on how many people have been attacked by Zeus, but it is still a threat to computer users as of July 2013.

Prevention

Being cautious online is your best way to prevent your password from being stolen. Unless you're sure you're on Facebook's site, don't type in your Facebook password. Malicious webpages that request your password will be able to see what you've typed into their password fields. Don't click on links in emails that don't come from trusted senders and don't interact with apps or programs -- even on Facebook -- that aren't made by trusted companies or individuals. Keeping your virus protection current is another way to prevent your computer from being infiltrated.

by Taboola

References (4)

About the Author

Melly Parker has been writing since 2007, focusing on health, business, technology and home improvement. She has also worked as a teacher and a bioassay laboratory technician. Parker now serves as a marketing specialist at one of the largest mobile app developers in the world. She holds a Master of Science in English.

Photo Credits

Siri Stafford/Lifesize/Getty Images

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