Scam Signature Message:
[video] – Whitney Houstons autopsy reveals a shocking secret that explains her death.

Trending: February 2012

Scam Type: Malware, Rogue Plugin

Why it’s a Scam:

Clicking the wall post link takes you to the following page:

The scammers are hoping to trick unsuspecting users in to downloading a rogue browser plugin.  As with Facebook applications, only install plugins / browser extensions from trusted sources.  You don’t need a YouTube player to see videos. This is a totally bogus ruse to trick people into downloading a potentially malicious download. Installing a plugin like this leaves your system totally vulnerable to the developer. Similar scams have been known to pack malware and viruses. Installing the plugin is definitely not worth the risk to your system. We decided to stop here and advise you to do the same.

How to Deal with the Scam:

If you follow the scam through to its completion, then you are likely spreading the very same scam message to your friends. They will need to remove the scam message by clicking the small “X” located in the top right hand corner of the post on their wall. You also need to run a complete system scan on your machine to make sure the code didn’t infect your system. You will also need to uninstall the rogue add-on from your web browser.

How to protect your Facebook account from Rogue Browser Extensions

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 page on Facebook to be kept informed of the latest security issues. Also check out:

The Ultimate Guide to Facebook Scams and How to Deal with Them

How to spot a Facebook Survey Scam

Recommended Resources

BitDefender Safego is a Facebook application you can install that will scan your News Feed and help keep you safe from scams like this.

PRIVATE WiFi® is a Personal VPN that encrypts everything you send and receive. Don’t access Facebook from a public WiFi hotspot without it.