Security Firm Sues Facebook For Banning Lookalike Domains Used For Phishing Tests

When it comes to user security, Facebook likes to talk a big game. However, the social media giant’s actions don’t always back that up. For instance, cybersecurity firm Proofpoint filed a lawsuit against Facebook last week for shutting down its phishing awareness training.

According to the suit, Facebook forced Proofpoint to stop using lookalike domain names for Instagram and Facebook. And while that makes sense on its face, the cybersecurity company was using the links to train users to recognize examples of fake Facebook links.

“Proofpoint is helping those individuals who were baited into clicking on the simulated phishing link to safely learn from their mistakes and further train them to identify similar malware, phishing, and Internet bad actors so that they can avoid actual cybersecurity breaches in the future,” Proofpoint wrote in its lawsuit.

Additionally, Proofpoint argued that no harm was done to users who participated, and that security tests like this actually indirectly benefit Facebook by educating users.

Of course, Facebook’s rule against lookalike domain names is a wise security measure. However, it seems like the enforcement of the policy may have done more harm than good this time around.




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