Facebook's Timeline scams hit users

Cyber miscreants are relying on the fact that many Facebook users will hate the new Timeline feature. Facebook Timeline, best described as a detailed log of a person's life online, is being viewed with skepticism by those not keen on sharing details with everyone.

"A lot of people will decide that they don't like Timeline and start looking for ways to revert to their old profiles. Scam artists and 'clickjackers' are getting ready for that day, offering bogus links on Facebook that promise Timeline removal," points cyber security vendor ESET.

Cyber rogues are targeting unhappy Facebook users with fake 'Like' buttons, invites to friends and viewing requests for YouTube videos, characteristic to many web scams. All these could lead to an extension containing probable malware.

"So far, Facebook has not been able to keep up with the policing of these scams. I see no warnings on the Facebook Security page about claims to deactivate Timeline. Unless Facebook changes its mind and makes Timeline optional, the bottom line is that you will have to live with it and avoid the temptation to click on links promising to help you deactivate, remove, or disable Timeline," says Stephen Cobb, security evangelist for ESET.

"The Facebook Timeline will be a wake-up call for some who have shared too much in the past, too freely. In my case, the Timeline was the catalyst to reassess my relationship with Facebook - and so I've killed my account," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos "If nothing else, Facebook users should take this opportunity to re-evaluate what they share online. It is time to spring clean your Facebook account and online relationships, and ensure you are only sharing what you want to share and with who you want to share. After all, a website that holds details of your entire life, likes and loves, is gold dust for scammers."