Facebook users offered new app to scan for malicious links
Facebook users worried about the risk of clicking on malicious links while using the social networking service are being offered a new app web that filters friend from foe.
Available as a live beta, ShareSafe from F-Secure uses "patent-pending" technology to scan links users plan to send to friends, or do the same in reverse when links arrive from other sources. Once installed, users simply navigate to the Sharesafe page where links can be pasted for security testing.
The app spreads virally by branding itself next to every scanned link sent out to friends and by asking for permission to recommend itself to a user's Facebook friends directly, which underlines the vendor's motivation for offering it as a free utility. Cleverly, F-secure also offers points for every scanned link as long as it is also 'shared' (i.e the F-Secure brand gets some exposure), which can be redeemed against paid products from the company such as its PC or mobile antivirus software or online backup service.
