Facebook and "Your" account...

Howdo all, it's been a looooong time since I became a "born-again" lurker lol.

Anyhoo, I ran into an issue with Facebook today and was so enraged by it I ended up scouring the interwebz for a solution.
Unfortunately, I found none, but I did came across many other users who have all been faced with the same issue. Some managed to get around it and others ended up losing access to their "own" profiles either temporarily or permanently.

The issue I speak of is when you've been targeted by Facebook and locked out of your account under the false claim of them believing your device is infected with malware, all so that they can offer you access to download one of their products (or a product of a company they've partnered with) which will magically unlock your account (once you agree to the download) and allow you to resume your willing participation in updating your friends with every fart, burp and sneeze.

From the accounts of many other users who've experienced this, you see that many have all had perfectly fine devices with absolutely no viruses, malware, spyware etc. They have run their own protection software and come up with zilch!

Facebook Randomly Forcing Users To Download Anti-Virus Software

Some, who were more tech-savvy, decided to try the software Facebook would offer only to find that it would install on their machines, but wouldn't be easy to find. When it was found, some users claimed that it was notoriously difficult to uninstall, while others claimed it would also install files that would eventually cause havoc with their machines.
There were also some who said the software they "agreed" to download didn't actually do anything, or wouldn't initialise at all.

Facebook forced me to download...

That's the one thing that infuriated me with this issue...you are forced into agreeing to download this crap, or lose access to your profile page for....hell knows however long. There's absolutely no option to declare that you have your own software protection which has found nothing wrong!

Then this is where the whole general conspiracy part kicks in.

There is no malware.
Your machine/device is absolutely fine.
It's a pathetic scare tactic to dupe you into downloading actual spyware/malware/everyotherbull***tware for them (the company's, alphabet agencies, aliens...whatever you want to believe) to track/listen/profile you, the user.

I say the above because others are able to log into their Facebook accounts without a warning, on the same device that's supposed to be infected!
(I actually just tried the above with a couple of family members. They can log into theirs ok, but when they try mine they are greeted with the warning).



Below are a few of the screens I was presented with:

Say what??? I'm pretty sure my device is fine. Please can I pass?



I'll take that as a NO then.



Needless to say, the pic below is as far as I was willing to go. Ain't no way I was touching that download button!



I did however, briefly skim through their terms for the download.
As expected, bulked up, convoluted waffle which pretty much equated to "You download this at your own risk, we do whatever we want with your device. If something goes wrong with your device, you agree to not try and blame us. We can extract your geo-location, scan and examine files on your HDD, use your personal information for any opportunities that may arise that will benefit us blah, blah, blah".

Now, I actually know why it's nigh on impossible trying to contact Facebook directly instead of being forced to wade through their endless "help section".

Looking back on what I've just expelled from my system, I now realise this post may have been better suited to the Rant Forum??
(Mods, please move if necessary. Many thanks)

I actually received a text message from something claiming to be FB.

Something along the lines as you need to click here to change your password.

Funny thing is, I thought I deleted my FB account over a year ago.
Turns out that apparently its harder to delete it than what they say. FB claims its removed, but I guess they keep it archived or something.

Hence why I stopped using the app on my phone, just the browser now. Does this only happen to users on the computer? Similar case with them forcing you to download messenger to your phone. Like, hello, if that's not obvious, I don't know what is lol.

a reply to: redize
That's a test run.
Get out now why you still can.

Sadly all the gullible people will download the malware (thatś what I call it)...
I trust no ones machine, except for mine when it comes to logins. Since most people just click "ok" "next" everytime they install software without even looking what they do, I deem them all unsafe.

Heck theyŕe getting sneakier every year. Since some time you need to watch very carefully if you install any freeware, not because there is some other setup hidden, yeah we know that. No, since some time they use double negatives ("check the box if you don't want to install xyz").

No one reads the EULA either..

This is just a guess, but I have had 'friends' post a whole big long oratory about how they were scammed/hacked and that their site was posting nudity and vulgarities in all probability that they were in no way responsible for.

I have never encountered any of these supposed claims at any time on Facebook. I have never seen anything remotely as described. .......What I do think however, is that these claimants have been frequenting porn sites and at some time gotten a virus or whatever from said site/sites.. And further thinking they might be exposed, have posted a warning that they most certainly have not, and that it's a second parties fault.

These warnings to me, .... are suspect. I havn't checked to see if they are on 'Snopes', but I think are likely hollow denials, and they were caught and received a virus/malware as their reward from their secretly frequenting porn sites.

As for lock-outs......... no one I know has been.

originally posted by: Plotus
These warnings to me, .... are suspect. I havn't checked to see if they are on 'Snopes', but I think are likely hollow denials, and they were caught and received a virus/malware as their reward from their secretly frequenting porn sites.

As for lock-outs......... no one I know has been.

Except in this case (and as I mentioned, many others cases), there is actually NO malware on the supposedly infected devices. Zip. Zilch. The warning only shows to "certain" accounts that have been affected and not to others who log in on the same device.
So for them to claim the device is infected, is a blatant lie, to put it simply.
It is a ruse to dupe the herd into voluntarily downloading malware/spyware etc.

originally posted by: EmmanuelGoldstein
a reply to: redize
That's a test run.
Get out now why you still can.

I did actually delete my proper account many years ago when someone on ATS mentioned a cut-off date for being able to have you details completely wiped by FB, rather than just being a deactivated account.
Years later, I'm still glad I did it for real back then lol, even though I still get emails offering help for having trouble getting back onto FB with said account.
(This is no big loss for me, I'm just angered by their outright abuse of power and the audacity of them. I only joined again within the last year for video game related reasons )

originally posted by: redize

originally posted by: Plotus
These warnings to me, .... are suspect. I havn't checked to see if they are on 'Snopes', but I think are likely hollow denials, and they were caught and received a virus/malware as their reward from their secretly frequenting porn sites.

As for lock-outs......... no one I know has been.

Except in this case (and as I mentioned, many others cases), there is actually NO malware on the supposedly infected devices. Zip. Zilch. The warning only shows to "certain" accounts that have been affected and not to others who log in on the same device.
So for them to claim the device is infected, is a blatant lie, to put it simply.
It is a ruse to dupe the herd into voluntarily downloading malware/spyware etc.

Well, thanks for the heads up.

originally posted by: verschickter
Heck theyŕe getting sneakier every year. Since some time you need to watch very carefully if you install any freeware, not because there is some other setup hidden, yeah we know that. No, since some time they use double negatives ("check the box if you don't want to install xyz").

No one reads the EULA either..

You know, I would have been "one of them" and happily clicked away, giving up this right, that right lol....if it wasn't for ATS.
Seeing how the worlds really runs via this site changes you (for the better IMO). It definitely makes you much more aware of things, especially your online presence....it has also gotten me into the habit of going over things like "Term & Conditions", "Agreements" and "EULA's" lol.

Also, from what I found online, others had reported that it wasn't only limited to their PC's, which is why I used the term "device". They were getting it on other mediums such as their phones and iPads.

I think there's a point a company like FB gets to that means something needs to change or they need to be...I don't know, jut gone. They're too big and have too much power, they no longer have their customers best interests at heart and instead and just looking at more and more ways to make some cash.

Plus, when it comes to having access to millions of peoples personal details, they need to understand and practice transparency!

originally posted by: Plotus

Well, thanks for the heads up.

If it helped, then sure, no worries

Facebook won't even download anymore from play store, it keeps saying 504 error message and what's with all the updates?? so annoying.

using my phone, any advice on how to get it to finally download would be great?

a reply to: DarkvsLight29

To be honest, I wouldn't even let FB anywhere near my phone lol, so I'm afraid I couldn't help you with that buddy.

Maybe you could visit the site from your phones browser and find a link to the app from there?
Or, failing that, you could install Bluestacks on your desktop (it's something of an Android emulator connected to the same account you use on an Android phone), navigate to the play store and download the FB app there, then try rebooting your phone and then visit the store again to download the FB app?
(Also, as for the updates...you can only speculate what crap they're stashing on your phone with them!)

Like I said, that might not help so sorry if it didn't lol.

Here a bit to listen to
If you wait long 5 to 10 day they give you a choice to not take it
so fu$( then them maybe I will sign in next week just maybe
Tweeter has better shhit on now

a reply to: redize

If they tried that with me, I'd tell them where to shove their account. I barely use the blasted thing, anyway, maybe logging on once every month or two, if that, just to check up on people who won't use anything else online. I wouldn't miss it at all! If someone really wants to contact me, they will have my email and cell information.

originally posted by: LadyGreenEyes
a reply to: redize

If they tried that with me, I'd tell them where to shove their account.

Agreed! The only problem is...actually finding someone or even a function to report a problem to lol. It's fairly obvious they know that they'll have angry customers for s**t they constantly pull and show absolutely no human decency with regard to providing an actual help service.

Luckily, I'm in the same boat as you so haven't really lost too much and really am not bothered by it either.
I just think if they are going to follow this sly tactic, that it should at least be put out there so others can easily find it and come to see FB for what it really is!

anyone who'd actually have a facebook account it totally and completely asleep. They're so utterly stupid. Why would anyone do that?

a reply to: bigpatato

My reason is/was simply because of the benefits of having my account connected to various video games. That's the one thing about gaming today that I detest, the whole social media connection.

Hopefully it's a minor phase.

Like I mentioned before, I used to have an account that had literally everything anyone would want to know about me. ATS happened, I was able to see behind the bold colours and pretty designs and opted to terminate my account.
(Notice I say terminate and not deactivate).

So pretty much agree with you there about having to be stupid and asleep when it comes to voluntarily creating and maintaining a page on FB.....as harsh as that sounds lol.

originally posted by: bigpatato
anyone who'd actually have a facebook account it totally and completely asleep. They're so utterly stupid. Why would anyone do that?

I live quite a distance away from my remaining family and friends, I use it to post an occasional photo of a place I have visited with 1 or 2 lines saying all is well so they know not to worry and I am doing okay.

I also get to see how they're doing, updates on my nephews and nieces; school photos, holiday photos.

My profile is mostly blank, and having my name to the world is no problem to me (Isaac Kostevc), I'm not paranoid to that, I spend 5minutes scrolling through updates in the morning while looking at my news, and one (maybe twice) a month I post a photo with a line or 2.

Calling me asleep and stupid for using it for that reason is very unkind.

originally posted by: redize
a reply to: DarkvsLight29

To be honest, I wouldn't even let FB anywhere near my phone lol, so I'm afraid I couldn't help you with that buddy.

Maybe you could visit the site from your phones browser and find a link to the app from there?
Or, failing that, you could install Bluestacks on your desktop (it's something of an Android emulator connected to the same account you use on an Android phone), navigate to the play store and download the FB app there, then try rebooting your phone and then visit the store again to download the FB app?
(Also, as for the updates...you can only speculate what crap they're stashing on your phone with them!)

Like I said, that might not help so sorry if it didn't lol.

Cool thanks for the advice.