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How McAfee helps Facebook

McAfee helps Facebook in four ways: scanning and cleaning up malware, scanning and cleaning up adware, offering its security software for six months free, and scanning links on the social network.
Written by Emil Protalinski, Contributor

Facebook last week partnered with five companies (Microsoft, McAfee, TrendMicro, Sophos, and Symantec) to provide its users with access to full version antivirus software free for six months. The five firms also agreed to augment Facebook's URL blacklist system with their own URL blacklist databases. Last but not least, Facebook said these companies would be posting important security material to help Facebook users keep themselves, and their data, safe. First up is the Intel-owned McAfee.

McAfee gave the following basic security and safety tips (more via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blog Central, and the Security Advice Center):

  • Use comprehensive, up to date security on all your devices.
  • Use strong passwords that are at least 8 character in length and are a combination of letters, number and symbol and don’t use the same password for each site.
  • Click on links and download files with caution, especially if they are from someone you don’t know Stay educated on the latest scams and tricks cybercriminals use.
  • Use common sense – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

As for helping Facebook, the social network is leveraging McAfee technology in four different areas:

  • Scan and Repair for malware – a custom, browser-based virus scanning tool that cleans the user’s machine of malware.
  • Scan and Repair for Adware – a custom, browser-based tool that allows users to detect, clean and remove adware from their machine.
  • Facebook AV Marketplace – provide extended free trials of our comprehensive security software (which includes anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall) for Facebook users.
  • Linkshim – a tool that protects users from dangerous links that lead to malicious websites, malware, spam, etc.

Facebook and McAfee first started collaborating in 2010. Over the last three years, McAfee has helped Facebook eradicate the Koobface virus, and reduce spam rates as well as a compromised accounts. McAfee's Global Threat Intelligence service helps Facebook track emerging threats.

"McAfee is proud to be participating in Facebook's AV Marketplace offering McAfee Internet Security 2012 and integrating with Facebook's external URL protections," a McAfee spokesperson said in a statement.

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