Facebook hoaxes are becoming almost as common as the scams they try to warn against. The latest hoax advises that a tagged photo of you could have a link to a devastating virus that can wreck havoc on your computer, your bank accounts and other secure accounts.

There are some truths that can be gleaned from the warning. The Facebook photo tagging exploit is common tool used by hackers and scammers alike. Clicking on their links can certainly lead to malware infestation. And yes, malware can virally spread from user to user via Facebook, email, etc. However, the nature and scope of the virus being described is dramatically overstated and alarming without cause. You definitely need to be aware that tagged photos can contain malware, you should also be careful on what links you click on, and you should also have a proper anti-virus software program installed on your computer.

Don’t blindly repost sensational alerts like this to your Facebook friends. Some hoaxes malign companies and individuals. You don’t want to be responsible for damaging the reputation of an innocent party just by automatically posting a story to your wall. It is great to spread useful information and legitimate warnings to your friends – just do a little fact finding before clicking “share.”

If you or your Facebook friends are falling for tricks like this, it’s time to get yourself informed of the latest threats. Be sure to join the Facecrooks community of over 40,000 fans on Facebook to be kept informed of the latest security issues.