False Warnings - 'Cleaning out Friends List' Questions on Facebook Contain Viruses or are Posted by Hackers

Outline
Circulating messages warn uses that questions about cleaning out friends list appearing on Facebook contain viruses or are posted by hackers.



Brief Analysis
The "cleaning out friends" list messages do not contain viruses, nor are they posted by hackers. They are simply messages posted via Facebook's "Questions" application that have "gone viral". The questions are harmless, albeit rather annoying.

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Last updated: 25th October 2011
First published: 25th October 2011
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer

Examples






Detailed Analysis
A large number of messages are currently appearing on Facebook that claim that users are cleaning out their friends lists. As the screenshot to the right reveals, these questions typically ask if recipients wish to remain on the user's list.

At the same time, various other messages are also circulating that warn users about supposed security risks pertaining to these "cleaning out friends list" questions. Some claim that the messages are viruses that, if clicked, will infect the participant's computer. Others claim that answering the question will give hackers access to the user's computer. However, all such warnings are false and should not be taken seriously.

The messages are in fact nothing more than queries posted via Facebook's Questions app that have inadvertently circulated far afield of the original poster's circle of online friends. These Questions have "gone viral" because they include an "Ask Friends" button. Users who click "Ask Friends" can share the same question with all of the people on their own Friends list. And, if someone votes in one of the polls, a message about the vote is posted on their news feed, often leading the person's friends to believe that he or she was the one who posed the question in the first place. Many of the questions have therefore spread far and wide, sowing confusion and concern as they travel and sometimes collecting hundreds of thousands - or even millions - of votes along the way. Since it is not always clear where the questions originated from and why they have suddenly appeared, some users have wrongly assumed that the messages are malicious. Such false assumptions have given rise to many false and misleading warnings about the questions.

In truth, these questions are completely harmless, albeit rather annoying. Unfortunately, reposting false warnings about such questions has served only to spread further confusion and concern as well as clutter Facebook with even more pointless nonsense. If you receive one of these bogus warnings, please do not repost it. And let the sender know that the claims in the warnings are incorrect.



References
Facebook Questions
Random Facebook User's Question Gets Four Million Votes

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Pages in this issue:

1. Anti Text-Driving Message - Car Wedged Under Truck Image
2. Nationwide Phishing Scam Emails
3. Faux Image - Double Sunset on Mars
4. Microsoft Cyber-Crime Department Phishing Scam
5. Does A Photo Depict A Puppy Being Forced to Drink Vodka?
6. Post Circulating Claims Hotel Made Disabled US Veteran Crawl Down Stairs
7. AFL vs NRL - Wrongdoings of Australian Members of Parliament Hoax
8. Three.co.uk Phishing Scam
9. Another Facebook Sick Baby Hoax - Baby With Brain Cancer
10. Circulating Opinion Piece - 'Democratic, Republican Liberal-Progressive's Worst Nightmare'
11. Fake Three (Or Seven) Headed Snake Image
12. Misleading Health Advice Email - 'Mayo Clinic on Aspirin and Heart Attacks'
13. Facebook Survey Scam - Free Argos Gift Card
14. 'Email Deactivation Warning' Phishing Scam
15. Anti-Obama Youtube Video Compiles Multiple Conspiracy Theories
16. Fake AT&T Bill Emails Point To Malware
17. Messages Claim Coca Cola to be Banned In Bolivia
18. 'Free Apple Product' Text Message Survey Scam
19. Circulating Warning - Facebook May Close Down Animal Rescue Account'
20. 2012 FIFA World Cup Online Lottery Advance Fee Scam
21. Email Claiming US Gold Medal Gymnast Gabrielle Douglas Faces Lifetime Ban Used to Spread Malware
22. Bigpond Security Service Phishing Scam
23. Wrestling Star John Cena is NOT Dead
24. Hoax - NASA Predicts Total Blackout of Planet in Dec 2012
25. Wrestling Star Undertaker is NOT Dead
26. Colin And Chris Weir Donation Programme Advance Fee Scam
27. US EPA Regulations Force Power Plant Closures
28. 'View Facebook Followers' Scam Targets Twitter Users
29. Lloyds TSB 'New Banking Authentication' Phishing Scam
30. Faux Image - Pilots Protesting Chemtrails
31. Telstra Bill Account Update Phishing Scam
32. McDonald's Signboard Supporting Chick-Fil-A
33. ABSA 'Authorized EFT Payment Received' Phishing Scam
34. Hoax Picture - Obama Holding Phone Upside Down
35. 'eBay Item Not Received' Phishing Scam Email
36. Wells Fargo 'Security Check' Phishing Scam
37. False Warnings - 'Cleaning out Friends List' Questions on Facebook Contain Viruses or are Posted by Hackers