Facebook Launches Malware Checkpoint Service

Three months after announcing a partnership with several security companies to provide free antivirus, Facebook has now established a new service Malware Checkpoint for users worried their computer may be infected.

“Previously, if you suspected you may have malware installed on your device, you would either need to run anti-virus on your device or wait until Facebook identified an actionable threat,” according to a note on Facebook’s security team. “Now, with our new self-enrollment malware checkpoint, you will be able to proactively obtain your choice of a free anti-virus product to scan and clean your system.”

Currently, Facebook offers two products through the Malware Checkpoint for all of its users: McAfee’s Scan and Repair and Microsoft Security Essentials. The McAfee option will download a small program onto a user’s Windows computer to perform a one-time scan of the system for malware. It does not interfere with the user’s existing anti-virus or other security products, and will give users the option to automatically or manually remove the files it flags as malicious, Facebook explained.

The Microsoft Security Essentials option provides a full anti-virus product and will provide users with the latest signatures from Microsoft.

In April, Facebook announced a partnership with Microsoft, McAfee, Trend Micro, Sophos and Symantec to create the ‘AV Marketplace’, where Facebook users to download six-month licenses for their products free of charge.

“We hope that by making our technology available to more users, on demand, will help all the people who use our service keep their data and devices secure,” Facebook’s security team noted. “You can find more information on keeping your information safe on the Facebook Security Page and the Security on Facebook site.”