BitDefender safego protects you from Facebook dangers

Facebook's immense popularity has made it a prime target for cybercriminals. Malicious (or 'poisoned') links, spam, and malvertising are all too common -- and it's far too easy for an unsuspecting Facebook user to be taken in. Hey, if one of your friends sends you a link to what seems like a hilarious picture, there's a decent chance you'll click through, right?

... And that's how the bad guys get you. Fortunately, however, there's a slick new Facebook app from BitDefender called safego that can help protect you (and your less-technical friends and family).

The idea is simple: install safego and let it scan your profile. Any links you've received will be scanned, including short URLs from services like bit.ly and tinyurl. Fire up the scanner and let it check all those new messages and wall posts you've received, and you'll know in an instant if there's anything that you should avoid clicking.

My mind boggles when I think about all of the infected computers I've cleaned that could have been spared that fate if their owners had used an app like safego to defend their Facebook profiles.

safego even checks your account for any privacy issues which might need to be addressed. Right now, unfortunately, attention items aren't linked -- so I can't find out what it is about my profile safego thinks I should check.

The app is in beta, however, so I'd fully expect that problem to be addressed by the time it sheds the tag. It's also worth noting that on some versions of Google Chrome the bottom boxes in safego's dashboard (last scanned items and infected items) never update. Again, this is likely a beta issue.

Growing pains aside, BitDefender safego is still a fantastic way for any Facebook user to protect him or herself. If you've ever been the victim of a malicious link on Facebook or had your profile attacked by some nasty malware, safego is an app you simple shouldn't be without.

BitDefender provides safego totally free, and with good reason. The Facebook app is a great idea, and it's got tremendous viral potential. That means a lot of free PR and more name recognition for BitDefender -- which in turn could lead to increased sales of the company's paid products.

It should also allow BitDefender greater insight into the Facebook threat landscape, and that's a good thing for all of us. The more security companies know about what the bad guys are up to on Facebook, the better equipped they'll be to protect us.

Install the BitDefender safego Facebook app

Tags: antivirus, bitdefender, danger, links, malware, phishing, safego, safety, security, trojan, virus