Vulnerable Facebook users offered 'free' security software

Every one of Facebook's 350 million users is to be offered free virus protection for six months, after the social networking website signed an unprecedented global deal with the computer security firm McAfee.

The offer, in which McAfee will distribute more than $16.5bn worth of free software, is available from today to Facebook users in the UK, United States, Australia, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, France, Canada, Mexico and Brazil; further countries will be added over the next three months.

It is not yet clear when Kiwis are going to be offered the McAfee package.

The move follows a rise in reports of malicious software, or malware, targeting Facebook users.

The viruses, which are designed to spread rapidly across the network, hijack people's computers and send messages to all their friends encouraging them to visit websites, where they are in turn attacked.

According to recent research, almost half of internet users do not have adequate virus protection, and 78 per cent do not regularly update the anti-virus and anti-spyware programmes they have bought.

Those without protection pose a danger to those with whom they interact online, and the agreement between McAfee and Facebook is designed to tackle this problem.

"We are taking an unprecedented step towards making the entire internet more secure and reducing the possibility of threats being brought on to our service by unsuspecting users," said Elliot Schrage, Facebook's vice-president of global communications.

Under the terms of the agreement, McAfee will become Facebook's exclusive provider of virus protection software for a year. Users are entitled to a free six-month trial of the firm's internet Security Suite software worth around NZ$50.

If all of the site's users take advantage of the offer, McAfee will effectively be giving away more than $16.5bn worth of software.

The package includes a scanning and repair tool to allow users to clean their PCs after a virus attack, as well as the basic McAfee security software.

After six months, they will be able to buy a full subscription at a discounted rate.

- THE INDEPENDENT