Hey friend! Have you heard about the nasty "Look Who Died" Facebook virus going around? It‘s one of the latest social media scams that hackers are using to steal personal information and spread malware. I wanted to break down everything you need to know about spotting and destroying this Facebook Messenger scam.
Here‘s the deal: you might receive a message on Messenger that looks like it‘s from one of your friends saying something like "OMG, look who died in a car crash!" or "Can you believe who just passed away?" If you click the link in the message, it installs a malicious virus that can take over your account, steal your data, and even lock down your computer.
This scheme has already affected over 5 million Facebook users worldwide, according to cybersecurity firm MetaCert. And a shocking 15% of people actually click on these "Look Who Died" phishing links according to SocialCatfish.com, allowing the hackers to steal their personal information. So we all need to be aware of how to avoid falling for this insidious scam.
The good news is, with the right tools and knowledge, you can protect yourself and recover if you made the mistake of clicking the link. Let‘s walk through everything you need to know:
Contents
How to Spot the “Look Who Died” Facebook Virus
The scammers try to make these messages look convincing by spoofing accounts belonging to your actual Facebook friends. Some of the common ways the virus spreads include:
-
A message from a friend saying "OMG have you seen this video of you??" and linking to a malicious site to steal your login credentials.
-
A post on your feed reading "Can‘t believe this celebrity died, click here for more" linking to a virus download.
-
A notification for a Facebook Live event titled "Breaking News: Details on the sudden death of a major public figure" – but the link clicks install malware.
-
A message from a friend prompting you to click to see someone who died, often exploiting FOMO or curiosity to get you to click without thinking.
If you do accidentally click on one of these "Look Who Died" links on your smartphone, you‘re especially at risk. A 2019 McAfee study found 37% more mobile users click phishing links than desktop users.
So before you click on anything suspicious, remember these tips:
-
Hover over the link and check where it leads. Scammers try to hide the malicious URLs beneath seemingly safe link text.
-
If a friend sends an uncharacteristic or shocking message, confirm with them before clicking. Their account may be hacked.
-
Don‘t click links promising you revealing info, gossip, deals, prizes or inheritance money. It’s always a scam.
-
Enable two-factor authentication on your accounts for an extra layer of security.
Okay, but what if you already clicked and now your computer or phone is acting strange? Here‘s how to diagnose an infection:
Signs the Virus Infected Your Device
If hackers successfully trick you with the “Look Who Died” phishing scam, how do you know it infected your system? Watch for these telltale warning signs:
-
Your Facebook account posts odd statuses or content you didn‘t create. The malware often uses accounts it compromises to spread more scam links.
-
Pop-up ads or weird browser redirects start plaguing your web browsing. Ad injectors are a favorite malware payoff.
-
Your device runs hot and drains battery life faster than normal. Malware strains system resources.
-
Your antivirus program detects the virus and quarantines suspicious files. Make sure to use robust antivirus software like Norton, McAfee or Bitdefender to catch infections.
-
You notice decreased storage space from unfamiliar new apps being installed without your permission. Some malware pulls other shady apps along with it.
-
Facebook or Instagram login alerts pop up from locations nowhere near you, signaling account compromise. About 4.5% of compromised accounts are used for financial fraud according to the FBI.
If your computer is really bogged down by malware, try opening the Task Manager app on Windows or Activity Monitor on a Mac to view the most resource-intensive processes. Any unfamiliar programs hogging CPU usage likely mean trouble.
Okay, let‘s get into how we can kick this virus off your devices for good:
4 Steps to Remove the “Look Who Died” Malware
If you see the above warning signs, don’t delay in removing the infection fully. Here are the steps I recommend:
Step 1) Check Facebook Account Settings
First, log into Facebook to see if the hackers got into your social media. Head to Account Settings > Security and Login and look for any unfamiliar sessions. Logout remotely any devices you don‘t recognize to kick the hackers out.
While you’re there, turn on Login Approvals for two-factor authentication. This adds a code sent to your phone as a second verification step, meaning hackers also need your phone to access the account.
Also look under App Settings on the left sidebar. Remove any apps you don’t remember permitting. This cuts off extensions the hackers may have used to spread more spam or access data.
Be sure to check your posts and messages as well – delete anything suspicious the malware may have sent or posted on your profile before friends click them.
Step 2) Run a Complete Virus Scan
Now it’s time to remove the virus from your computer or smartphone‘s operating system. I recommend downloading one of the top-rated antivirus programs like Norton 360, McAfee Total Protection or Bitdefender Antivirus Plus to zap all traces of malware.
Once installed, run a full system scan. Make sure to do boot-time scans before the virus loads into memory. Allow the antivirus software to automatically quarantine or delete any malware it uncovers to disinfect your device.
On Windows, I also recommend using the free Malwarebytes app for an additional second opinion scan to catch any malware the main antivirus misses. Viruses that slip past one program are often detected by another.
Step 3) Change All Your Passwords
Since the “Look Who Died” virus aims to steal personal info, now is the perfect time to change your passwords for protection.
Make sure you have unique, complicated passwords across all your important accounts – especially email, financial services, social media, and shopping sites.
A password manager like 1Password or LastPass saves and organizes passwords for convenience. Just be sure to use a new master password unlike any others for that program.
And turn on two-factor authentication wherever possible for banking, email, and social media to fully lock down access.
Step 4) Reset Your Browser Extensions
Some browser hijackers masquerade as legit extensions in your Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari browser. Open your extensions dashboard and look for anything fishy you don’t remember installing.
In Chrome, click the puzzle icon > Manage extensions. In Firefox, click the menu icon > Add-ons. And in Safari, head to Preferences > Extensions.
Remove any shady extras because browser extensions can see your browsing activity, steal data, and inject more unwanted ads.
Phew, dealing with malware infections is never fun – but with some dedicated cleanup time, we can get your accounts and devices running safely again in no time!
Now, let‘s talk about how we can avoid these nasty viruses in the first place:
Tips to Avoid “Look Who Died” Facebook Messenger Scams
Here are some smart tips to keep these scammers from taking advantage of you on Messenger:
Enable Login Approvals
Under Facebook Settings, enable Login Approvals which adds two-factor authentication to your account. This requires a unique one-time code be entered from your phone at each login. Hackers halfway across the world can’t access your account without also holding your physical device.
Check Link Previews
Never click direct links in messages. Hover your mouse over the link first, without clicking, to preview the actual destination URL. Scammers try to hide malicious sites behind seemingly innocent text. But hovering reveals the true shady link.
Avoid Public WiFi
Logging into accounts on public WiFi makes it easier for hackers nearby to steal your passwords and data. Always use a VPN app if connecting to unsecured networks outside the home to encrypt your activity.
Install Antivirus Software
Robust antivirus software like Bitdefender or Norton 360 catches malware and phishing scams before they reach your computer. Antivirus runs constant background scans to keep your data safe from the latest hacker tricks.
Beware Messages Warning You of Dead Friends
This viral scam tugs at emotions to lower your guard. But don‘t click shocking links without first independently confirming the news elsewhere. And call the friend who sent the odd message in case their account is compromised.
Update Your Software
Always update your operating system, browsers, antivirus and apps when new versions roll out. Software updates contain vital security patches that fix vulnerabilities hackers exploit. Keeping software updated closes security holes.
The more precautions you take, the lower your risk of becoming another victim of the insidious “Look Who Died” virus. But if the worst happens and you spot signs of infection, follow the removal steps above to restore your accounts and devices.
Stay safe out there friend, and let me know if you have any other questions!
