Now is a good time to jump over to Google+ while Anonymous begins to take control of Facebook.
Has offensive material appeared in your Facebook news feed over the last twenty-four hours? If so, you're not alone, as security firm Sophos has confirmed the sudden-yet-offensive problem.
According to reports made by Facebook users, news feed content and personal messages now include explicit hardcore porn images, Photoshopped photos of celebrities in sexual situations, pictures of extreme violence and a photograph of an abused dog. That said, workers may need to get their Facebook fill at home rather than on the job until the porn flood has been contained... unless you work within the porn industry, that is.
News of the problem began to surface as Facebook users took to Twitter to vent their anger. The complaints universally point out that porn-posters are unaware that their accounts have been compromised to publish the offensive material. Even more, they can't even see the images posted on their wall or in their message box after logging on.
"One of my friend's accounts was compromised and messages containing a video were sent," reads one Twitter post. "My daughter's boyfriend had something posted on his wall that he couldn't see on his computer, but my daughter could see on his wall from hers."
"I had to deactivate my FB after all that Jesus porn... I just can't risk my position in heaven looking like I posted that mess," another user Tweeted. That's right, porn related to Jesus is making the rounds across Facebook as well.
"I have 5000 friends," said actress and director Courtney Zito. "My feed is littered with porn. I can't even check my news feed with anyone around because of it. Just saw one with a guy who had his skull bashed in and his brains on the street. Another one was the devil... Besides the countless naked girls. I'm about ready to deactivate."
Currently Sophos isn't sure how the offending content has been spread across Facebook, but assumes that it stems from a successful dose of spam.
"Whether users are falling for a clickjacking scheme, are being tagged in content without their knowledge, have poorly chosen privacy settings, have been tricked into installing malicious code, or have fallen victim to another vulnerability inside Facebook itself," Sophos reports. "What's clear, however, is that mischief-makers are upsetting many Facebook users and making the social networking site far from a family-friendly place."
But numerous reports are now pointing to a threat made by Anonymous, a threat to attack Facebook using a powerful "Guy Fawkes virus" they developed. According to the hacktivist group, it's a highly sophisticated work that takes control of your Facebook account and spreads to your friends' accounts without you actually being logged in.
"After the worm gets under control, Anonymous will use this to its advantage against corruption, and as an alternative attack towards groups who take on Anonymous," the group states in the video seen below, blatantly admitting to the Facebook attack back on Thursday. "We are Anonymous. We are a legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us."
As of this writing, Facebook has not issued an official statement.
Anyway.. It makes me happy. Because then I get to say "Anonymous did this" or "Anonymous did that" etc and gives me something exciting to talk about.
You guys need to take a good look at how this company works and how they use the information given to them.
You guys need to take a good look at how this company works and how they use the information given to them.
Anyway.. It makes me happy. Because then I get to say "Anonymous did this" or "Anonymous did that" etc and gives me something exciting to talk about.
To those who say: "if you don't like FB then don't use it". That would be fair if FB had not totally dominated the world's social networking and there was a choice. I still never hear anyone say: "are you on FB or Google+?". FB is the de facto standard. Increasingly I am just expected to be on FB by friends and colleagues (I am not). How long before employers, dates, agencies want details of your social networking?
No-one in their right mind would give the *government* the amount of information freely given to FB. Because it's all *fun* social networking Joe and Jane don't hesitate. Take my life, they say.
This is cyber terrorism, no less. There may indeed be weaknesses in Facebooks data networks in the same way as I may leave my house unlocked. That does not make Facebook (or me) a criminal - the criminal is the person who exploits such a weakness. If criminals did not exist I would not have to lock my door so security would be a non issue.
I am however not in agreement with the tactics of using pornography to do so. I don't think Anonymous is behind this, rather Anonymous is being used as a front to give the organization behind Occupy Wall Street and other human liberation projects, a bad name. If anything, Anonymous has been quite vocal in its fight against the ubiquitousness of pornography.
Couldn't happen to more deserving group.