The bane of all internet users, Cybercrime, is fast spreading itself in the realms of one of the most secured social networking websites, Facebook. According to recent reports, hackers and other online menaces have been taking over various Facebook accounts and creating havoc over the web.

A Facebook user, Lisa Severens, got a virus in her the laptop computer that took control of her Facebook account and used it to mass e-mail pornography to her friends and colleagues. Her employer had to replace her computer in order to get rid of the virus, as the hacking software could not be removed from her laptop.

Cybercrime is one of the fastest growing online crimes that cost companies and users billions of dollars on damages. Security experts believe that, due to the lack of information about cybercrimes and its consequences, users all over the world are being hit on a daily basis and furthermore, such attacks are largely taking place in the social networking domains.

Due to the increased popularity of Facebook over the years, hackers are now moving away from MySpace and concentrating on Facebook. This move comes in the wake of the increased Facebook subscriptions, that have risen from 120 million in December 2008 to 200 million as of today.

According to Mary Landesman (Sr. Researcher, ScanSafe),

“Facebook is the social network du jour. Attackers go where the people go. Always.”

Hackers are sending ‘friend requests’ to users, then send spam messages that directs the users to websites that steal personal information. This information is then used for identity thefts and frauds.

For the last year and a half, one of the most dangerous viruses that has been plaguing internet users, is the Koobface. This new cyber weapon initially was spotted on MySpace, but is now rapidly making its way to Facebook. When a user clicks on a spam link, this virus enters the computer system and takes over the entire system, thus rendering the user completely helpless.

Via Reuters.