Facebook announced the launch of the Antivirus Marketplace today. This is a collaborative effort with the following software security companies: Microsoft, McAfee, TrendMicro, Sophos and Symantec.
Not only will Facebook users be able to download free, full version antivirus software from the AV marketplace to help protect their personal computers, but the Facebook platform will experience enhanced security as well.
The post states, “Now, all of Facebook’s more than 900 million users will be protected by the combined intelligence of these industry leaders. Our URL blacklist system, which scans trillions of clicks per day, will now incorporate the malicious URL databases from these security companies to augment our existing level of protection. This means that whenever you click a link on our site, you benefit not just from Facebook’s existing protections, but the ongoing vigilance of the world’s leading corporations involved in computer security. At the moment, less than 4% of content shared is spam (compared to nearly 90% of email) and we are looking forward to making even more progress in the future. “
One of the more exciting announcements made in the post is that the security companies mentioned above will be sharing educational materials on the Facebook Security page. Facebook Security has often been criticized for the lack of available information and sparse updates. Up to this point, it has been a severely underutilized resource. It will be interesting to see what kind of information will be shared in the future. We encourage everyone to like the page to receive the forthcoming security updates.
To download a full version of antivirus software with a six month license, visit Facebook Security or access the marketplace directly at: http://on.fb.me/FBAVMarketplace.
As Emil Protalinski notes in ZDNet’s related blog post, users will have to pay for the software once the six months are up unless they use Microsoft Security Essentials, which remains free forever.
Other Free Anti-virus options worth considering are listed below:
Recommended Resources
PRIVATE WiFi® is a Personal VPN that encrypts everything you send and receive. Don’t access Facebook from a public WiFi hotspot without it.
BitDefender Safego is a Facebook application you can install that will scan your News Feed and help keep you safe from scams like this.
Do Not Track + is a FREE browser plugin created by Abine. This easy to install plugin keeps websites from tracking you. If you value your online privacy, then you should definitely take advantage of this free product.
Action Alert | Free Parental Control offers a 100% free Internet safety solution designed for parents. There is also a Maximum Protection option for parents that need a more advanced set of tools.
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