Facebook to check every link for viruses
Source: Christopher Williams
Facebook will check every web link its users click on for computer viruses and other dangers as part of efforts to improve the security of the world's largest social network.
From today, hundreds of millions of outbound links every day will be passed through a system provided by the web security firm Websense.
It will effectively visit pages on users' behalf, and apply a series of tests for Trojans, phishing attempts, botnets and other threats.
If the system does not detect a problem with a link, the user will be allowed to visit the page as normal, without any sign that it has been checked. When a threat is detected, however, Facebook will present a warning with links to more information. If the user wants to proceed anyway, they will be allowed.
"Facebook is a big target for criminals online," said Spencer Parker of Websense.
"We'll be protecting all 750 million of its users."
Mr Parker added that Websense will receive no personal information about Facebook users and that its service will have no impact on privacy.
Google uses a similar approach to screen web search results and warn against visiting potentially malicious websites that "may harm your computer". But while Google's system simply checks search results against a list of "good" and "bad" websites, Facebook and Websense will check each address in real time, each time it is clicked.
"Good sites can be hacked by criminals at any time," said Mr Parker.
As well as warning against visiting websites that carry malware, Facebook will also intervene when users click links that have been identified as "abusive" by Websense. This includes websites that incite racial hatred and carry illegal pornography.
The move will be welcomed by many in the security industry, who have criticised Facebook for being slow to respond to complaints from users about the scam apps and wall postings used by criminals to target them.
Last month a fake news item claimed Lady Gaga had died and encouraged users to visit a website that attempted to install a virus on their computers.
"Facebook needs to work much harder to prevent attacks like this from reoccurring and spreading so rapidly," said Graham Cluley of the British security firm Sophos at the time.
Under the new security system, users who click on such a link will be warned.
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