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Facebook Getting Aggressive With 'Wall Spam'

Service starts playing tough, removing posts

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 25, 2008 8:07 PM CDT

(Newser) – “Wall spam” has gone from minor annoyance to publicity problem for Facebook, and it seems the social-networking giant is getting more aggressive in its attempts to combat it, reports Caroline McCarthy in CNET. Within 2 hours of receiving a spam post yesterday, McCarthy found it had been deleted by Facebook. Until recently, the site has merely been disabling links in suspected messages.

It’s unclear whether the post was deleted automatically or because another user flagged it. And it still took an hour or so for the message to disappear, which is plenty of time for a virus to do some damage. Wall spam’s profile rose this month when security firms started noting worms that were spreading through Facebook.

This image provided by Facebook shows the social networking site's new look, Wednesday, May 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Facebook, ho)

Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg speaks to press and advertising partners at a Facebook announcement in New York, Monday, November 6, 2007. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

The Facebook logo is displayed at a news conference in New York in this November 6, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, file)

Facebook.com's mastermind, Mark Zuckerberg smiles at his office in Palo Alto, Calif., in this Monday, Feb. 5, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, FILE)

Facebook is working to crack down on "Wall Spam." (Getty Images)

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Facebook Getting Aggressive With 'Wall Spam'

Service starts playing tough, removing posts

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Service starts playing tough, removing posts

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social networking • spam • Facebook • Mark Zuckerberg • Internet security

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More Newser Stories

Facebook Has Scads of Cash: Leak

Source reveals finances to Gawker

Blame Yourself for Facebook's Lack of Privacy

Site is all about sharing, so stop expecting a 'silver bullet' fix: Farhad Manjoo

Facebook Settles Privacy Case With FTC

It agrees to independent audits for 20 years

Facebook Employees Dreaming of IPO Christmas

Rumor mill heats up that company is going public soon

Facebook Delays Timeline Launch in Battle Over Name

Another site has 'timeline' rights

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Newser By Users

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