I was on Facebook today and started seeing a lot of people posting that the Facebook Fan Check application was virus and to remove it.

After doing some research, I found that the application is probably not a virus.  The spin to the apparant hoax is that there are several malware sites that have the keywords "Fix Fan Check virus" in their portfolio.  So, people use the app, see the posting that it was a virus, search google on how to fix it, then end up on an infectuous site that tricks them into installing malware on their computer which claims to fix the problem that never really existed.

Interesting social study for sure.

In my opionion, all of the apps and quizzes, etc, on Facebook are meant to drive advertising dollars by driving up usage and page impression counts.  I will admit I play MobWars and FarmTown occasionally, but I ignore nearly ever other quiz, test, app, etc.  The smaller my footprint on Facebook, the better in terms of possibility of contracting malicious software from the site.  Its called safe FaceBooking maybe.

Additional reading and sources:

http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/09/14/is-facebook-fan-check-a-virus-careful-whom-you-ask/

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fan-Check-Developer-Rebuts-Malware-Claims-121319.shtml

http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/web/facebook-fan-check-virus-rumours-are-driving-users-to-more-danger-633935

http://mashable.com/2009/09/07/facebook-fan-check-virus-hoax/