The “Remove Facebook Timeline” continues to work its way through Facebook.
After the initial “Remove Facebook Timeline” scam was reported by Facecrooks at the beginning of the year, it all went quiet and most people were sure that it had gone away. Now, after several months, it is back. There have been several Facebook events made, encouraging people to click on links to remove the Timeline feature. Unfortunately, people who click these links are getting more than they bargained for – some plug-ins request the user’s email address and Facebook password to remove the Timeline!
This seems an apt time to look back at the Facecrooks article published January 4, 2012. Although several months old, it does offer very sensible advice for those people who are either new to Facebook, or infrequent users.
In the article, Facecrooks says:
There are also several browser plugins that offer to remove the Facebook Timeline. You really aren’t removing the Timeline. The plugin either customizes the Facebook layout to a certain degree, or it tricks Facebook into thinking you are using Internet Explorer 7. Currently, Timeline isn’t compatible with this version of I.E. A word of caution – some of the plugins are malicious and have been known to spread malware. As with third party Facebook applications, we strongly advise that you only install browser add-ons from trusted, well-known sources. And just because an extension is located in the Chrome Web Store doesn’t mean it’s. There have been instances where rogue extensions infect users before being shut down by Google.
You can read the entire Facecrooks article here.
Facebook Timeline has met with very mixed reactions since it was rolled out. For those who absolutely hate it, we are sorry but you really are stuck with it. Many people use a trusted and well-known plugin called Socialfixer (formerly known as Better Facebook) to customise and streamline their Facebook layout. This does not remove it, but it’s a better option than the risk of either giving out login details, or ending up with a pc full of malware.
Are you someone who dislikes Facebook Timeline? Have you been tempted to install a removal plugin? Have you actually done it, and had problems as a result? Please leave your thoughts in the comment box below. Please also share this article to warn other YoVillians that this potential security scam is back.
