[Infowarrior] - Facebook requires McAfee for user clean-up

[Richard Forno]

(This sounds more to be a marketing deal so Facebook can up-sell  
Mcafee products to its locked-in users.   And no, I am not on  
Facebook.  -rick)


Facebook deal with McAfee forces computer clean-up
From: AFP
January 14, 2010 9:37PM

http://www.news.com.au/technology/facebook-deal-with-mcafee-forces-computer-clean-up/story-e6frfro0-1225819430863
FACEBOOK has announced an alliance with internet security firm McAfee  
to provide users of the world's leading online social network with  
better protection for their computers.

Facebook users whose accounts are breached by malicious software or  
other cyber attacks will need to have their computers cleansed by  
McAfee before returning to life in the online community.

The users are also being offered free six-month subscriptions to  
McAfee security software and then discounted prices for continued  
service.

"If we get people's machines this protection, it is better for them,  
for Facebook and the internet as a whole," Facebook director of  
communications Barry Schnitt said.

Previously, Facebook simply reset passwords of members whose accounts  
were hit by hacking, phishing, or other cyber-mischief and advised  
members to have malware purged from their computers.

"We found that they wouldn't fix the problems and got infected again,"  
Mr Schnitt said.

"Now, we've integrated a solution where they actually have to get  
machines scanned and cleaned."

McAfee and Facebook have collaborated on a free tool for cleaning up  
infected computers.

Facebook said it would not share in any revenue that McAfee makes from  
security software or services.

"The common goal is to help protect users of the Internet globally,"  
said McAfee vice president of marketing Brent Remai.

"We are pretty excited about this partnership."

Facebook selected McAfee after a competitive review process.

McAfee Internet Security Suite software is available to Facebook users  
in Australia, Britain, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and the United  
States. It will be extended to more countries in the coming months.

Facebook and McAfee cited research indicating that 78 per cent of  
computer users do not have updated virus and spyware protections on  
machines.

"By partnering with the market leader McAfee, we are taking an  
unprecedented step towards making the entire internet more secure and  
reducing the possibility of threats being brought onto our service by  
unsuspecting users," said Facebook vice president of global  
communications Elliot Schrage.

"Keeping the internet secure requires that users, security vendors and  
internet companies all work together."