Facebook hotmail problem update - and new virus hits the social networking site
So is Facebook acting as a Trojan horse for all manner of strange things - including some which want to rob you blind?
I recently blogged on a problem I was having signing out of my Hotmail account - and the error message (https://ssl.facebook.com/accept_token.php) seemed to suggest that the well known social networking site might be behind the problem.
I contacted the Hotmail Live team and in a reasonably short time they came back with potential fixes - one of which was asking if I had added the Facebook module to Windows Live Hotmail (I hadn't - or at least I hadn't personally done so.)
But to rule this out I followed the following steps:
1. Go to: http://home.live.com/
2. Sign in using your Windows Live ID and password
3. Click on Options, and then select "manage what's new with your network".
4. Under Web Activities, see if you have Facebook enabled.
5. If so, uncheck and click Save.
And Facebook was indeed enabled, even though I had not done so as I have no desire to give lots of different applications access to my email account.
As I pointed out below I had solved the problem by wiping all the private data from my browser, Firefox (tools: clear private data) on my home computer, which would in reality suggest that it was down to some kind of cookie or other program downloaded while browsing.
The fact that it only happened on my home computer backs this up.
The evil that is Facebook has also once again been highlighted after security firm PandaLabs said that it has identified the 56th variant of a family of worms that use Facebook to defraud users.
The Boface.BJ worm downloads and installs rogue anti-malware, attempting to trick users into believing they are infected and consequently buy a fake antivirus package.
An estimated two million Facebook users have been infected - and guess how it spreads itself? Yes it's because applications you sign up to have access to not just your information, but all your friends' information too.
Once the computer has been infected with new Boface.BJ.worm it takes four hours to kick into action, activating once infected users have entered their Facebook accounts.
It sends a message to the entire network of friends, including the infected user, directing them to fake YouTube site where users are prompted to download a media player - in fact, the fake antivirus product.
Thanks Facebook - another triumph of the 'Application' policy.
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18 Comments
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Ben Hurst
VERY VERY USEFUL MANY THANKS!!!
Cheers for this Benji. I had resisted joining facebook until recently and now wish i hadn't. I've had the fake anti-virus package issue and it also infected my wi-fi causing it to drop out every few seconds. Not being a techno geek, I did a system restore going back three weeks and that seemed to cure it. I'll try your suggestions as well, it seems a bit easier.
Hi,
I have got this problem too but have checked what you said above and I haven't got it activated. Have you got any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Jenny
Hi Jenny - have you deleted all the private data (cookies etc) on your internet browser?
Thanks for this info!!!
I had no idea when I registered for Facebook that I was allowing access to my hotmail address book.
People in my hotmail address book were getting emails in my name asking them to join Facebook that I did not send!
I also had the log out issue you mentioned. Your solution worked!
I have also discontinued my facebook account. I don't think the enjoyment is worth the risk!
Thanks for the info Ben,
much more useful than MSN's own "tech help" forums.
I had the signing out issue (https://ssl.facebook.com/accept_token.php)
and after following your steps I'm no longer getting the error message (woooo)....does seem weird tho that msn are asking everyone with this issue to submit the problem to the live help team, instead of taking the steps you've helpfully provided first, deleting all cookies and what not... then again they wouldn't want to make it easy for us all eh'!
Thanks again
No worries Charlie. I thought the same thing re the level of MSN assistance and I suspect that outright admission of the facebook or cookies issue would be basically admitting a culpability on their part. And as the reasons behind making these settings default, or putting that kind of cookie on your hard drive involve somewhat invasive privacy issues, they're not too keen to front up about it.
I have the same problem ony i checked to see if i was linked to facebook and i wasn't yes i did delete the cookies and i'm using IE8 and i just keep getting annoyed at this...plz help
mando, same here.
This thread is the only one I could find and it's a year old - until you and I started it up again.
The new version of Hotmail/Live doesn't have thos steps to turn off Facebook enabling.
Must be another way...
hi Ben
has not worked for me, deleted browsers nothing is working
Jo
Hi all - it seems to be a technical problem which can't be fixed at present. Facebook said: "Our product team is aware of this and we are currently working on a permanent fix for this issue. As a temporary workaround, I suggest that you manually close your browser window when you are ready to leave the site."
Which isn't exactly ideal - but presumably they'll come up with a fix soon...
Oh - here's a thread on Facebook where they'll presumably put any updates:
http://windowslivehelp.com/thread.aspx?threadid=15f48903-a4c1-4269-ae81-39234966e74e&page=5
Thanks Tech.
Their 'product team' is working on it...
I posted my advice to them.
Finally!
I had to figure it out on my own.
I should get paid by Microsoft for this.
to get rid of the ssl.facebook problem do this:
Control panel
Add or Remove programs
Find and UNINSTALL Java programs 1.5 and/or 1.6
You don't even need to reboot, just close and reopen IE, log into hotmail and Exit.
The problem should be gone.
Period.
Done.
and I'd like my check sent to...
3. Click on Options, and then select "".
I can't find
manage what's new with your network
where is it?
I have the same problem, but when I click on 'Options', I can't seem to find the; 'manage what's new with your network'-thingy, can anyone help me out, I wanna get rid of this facebook-junk!
I found another solution since I CWAL for these guys to answer my thread. If your using firefox here is what you do. Go to Tools->Clear Recent History a window will pop up. Click detail. then just make sure COOKIES is checked (Only if you wanna keep your history.) Then Click the Clear Now button. Sign in then out of your hotmail to see if it is fixed hope this help.
This is amazing I feel so happy with this information and also thanks so much because you put in here all the necessaries steps to get what we want.