Facebook 'Malvertising' Under the Microscope
More attention is now being paid to Facebook, where more malicious ads are attempting to lure users to divulge personal information.
The first set of ads, also observed on gaiaonline.com, had a free and easy money theme to them, always a sign of fishing for suckers. The ads redirected users through a series of intermediaries to a "fraudware" site. Facebook acknowledged the problem and pointed out that they were not actual Facebook ads, but ads within Facebook applications managed by 3rd parties. There's something to this distinction, but it still shows that you have to be careful on Facebook as you do everywhere.
The second is reported by Electric Dreams and appears to be a classic scareware threat. It supposedly showed up in one of those "relative request" things.
Security software can protect you, to a point, from threats like this. But your first-line and main defense has to be your common sense. Don't assume that Facebook is protecting you.
Originally posted on the PCMag.com security blog, Security Watch.