How to remove
Facebook virus
from Windows

My Facebook account was compromised! It automatically sent messages to all my friends with malicious links without me doing anything. I changed my password but the problem persists - my friends keep informing me that my messages are getting annoying. How can I remove Facebook virus that rampages via my profile?

The Facebook virus is a malicious software that compromises user’s account and uses it for certain purposes. There is no one right way to remove Facebook virus, because there are many different versions of it. The most popular ones are known as:

• Facebook message virus;
• Facebook friend request virus;
• Facebook video virus.

Facebook virus can automatically send messages to your contacts, post on your timeline, tag your friends in suspicious photos and perform other unpleasant activities without your knowledge. Once compromised, your account can be used for fraudulent activities, such as swindling money from your relatives.

If you suspect that you have a virus on Facebook Messenger that messages your friends without your authorization, you should take actions ASAP. Usually, such problem occurs when the victimized user clicks on the malicious link and agrees to install a suggested extension or application.

However, in some cases, the victim doesn’t even need to install anything in order to get infected. Below, we provide general tips on how you can remove Facebook virus and continue using your social media account again without running into headache-causing problems.

Tips to remove Facebook virus

Method 1. Revoke app permissions

Usually, the problem occurs when the user unknowingly provides certain privileges for untrustworthy apps.

1. Log into your Facebook profile. Now, click on the small arrow in the top right corner of the screen and go to Settings.
2. From the left section, choose Apps section. This will take you to App Settings. Here, you can adjust app permissions.
3. Look at the Logged in with Facebook section and click Show all below it. Now, you will need to do some serious cleaning.
4. Look through every program that seems unfamiliar or simply if you no longer use it and hover your mouse over it. You should see an X that appears next to the app. Click on it and then hit Remove to confirm your choice.
   TIP: You can decide to delete all activities associated with the app. Simply put a tick into check box provided on the pop-up that appears on your screen.
5. Repeat with every suspicious app.

Method 2. Remove unwanted software from your computer

The next thing that you should do is clean your computer from questionable applications that you may have installed accidentally.

1. Use Windows Search to find Control Panel. Usually, you can access it via Start menu.
2. Open Control Panel and then head to Programs and Features or Add/Remove Programs panel (whichever is available on your Windows - the name depends on operating system version).
3. Here, sort programs by date (just click on the Installed on panel or choose Sort by > Date;
4. Check the programs that were installed recently (try to remember when the virus started to bother you and look for programs installed on or before that day). Select the suspicious program and click Uninstall. You can also right-click on it and choose Uninstall. Follow instructions provided by the uninstall wizard and eliminate the unwanted software from your PC.

Method 3. Delete questionable extensions from your browsers

In most cases, Facebook message virus starts bothering when the victim clicks on a compromised link (most likely sent by another victim of the virus). Typically, deceptive messages include such lines: “hahaha,” “is that you?” “your private video” and similar.

The purpose of such short message is to arouse victim’s interest and convince one to click on the malicious link. After doing so, a redirect occurs. It usually leads the user to a phishing website that suggests installing a certain extension into browser or update Flash Player in order to view the video. To remove Facebook virus from your browsers, follow these instructions:

• For Chrome: Open the browser and type chrome://extensions in the URL bar. Hit Enter. Here, look through extensions installed in your browser and click the little trash icon on the right next to ones you wish to remove.
• For Firefox: Open Firefox and type about:addons into your web browser’s URL field. Hit Enter, here, look at the left panel and go to Extensions. Click Remove next to extensions you wish to delete.
• For Internet Explorer: Open IE, then click on Tools button, then go to Manage Add-ons. Here, find Show, and under it, you should notice All add-ons. Click on it and then look through the list of extensions. Select Remove next to ones you wish to eliminate.
• For Safari: In Safari menu, go to Preferences. Access Extensions tab and delete the ones that seem suspicious.

Method 4. Log out from devices you’re logged in and change your Facebook password

1. Login into Facebook and click on the small arrow in the top right corner of the screen.
2. Here, go to Settings. In Settings, find Security and Login tab (look on the left panel).
3. Now, log out from all devices via the Where You’re Logged In section. Simply click on three dots next to each device and choose Log out.
4. Now, find Login panel and click the Edit button next to Change password. Enter your current and new password, confirm it and hit Save Changes.

Method 5. Scan your computer for malware remains

However, to complete Facebook virus removal, you will need to check your system with a professional malware removal software. It can identify fileless infections and spying programs that could have transmitted your Facebook login details to attackers. We recommend installing [d1] to complete this task.