Facebook has begun offering free anti-malware software to clean up users' infected devices. While it's intended to be a tool for one-time use, the feature should be handy for Facebook members whose computers have been infiltrated by viruses.
F-Secure and Trend Micro, two software security companies, have collaborated with Facebook to provide the service, ValueWalk reported via the Facebook announcement. The social network also hinted at software options to come in the near future.
"These are the same systems that help us block malicious links and bad sites from among the trillions of clicks that take place every day on Facebook," Facebook said of the two companies in a blog post. "Our goal is to make it easier for people to find and use the right technology to better protect their devices."
The new system should automatically detect if Facebook is being accessed through an infected device, the company said. When users log in through devices with malware, a notification screen should let them know about the infection and recommend F-Secure or Trend Micro for cleanup.
"Each product contains distinct malware signatures and is suited to different kinds of threats, so we recommend trying the suggested product even if you already have an anti-virus or similar program running on your machine," Facebook said in the post, adding that the latest software versions will be used to treat the malware and then automatically uninstall themselves after running.
Facebook will notify users after they download and run the software to give them the results of the scan. Users can also opt out of running the anti-malware; if so, another prompt may follow later.
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