How to avoid scams and hackers on Faceboook

Today we will have a look at how you can protect yourself on facebook from the many scams and hackers out there.
The first (and only) rule is always don't click!  Really, honestly, DON'T click it.  I know it promises to show you something shocking/amazing/disgusting but really...it won't...so don't do it!  And if you find a link promising to tell you who is viewing your profile/stalking you/watching you/looking at you? ...Don't click it! 
There is NO facebook functionality that allows external
applications to record who is looking at your profile.

What are the risks on facebook?

These are the risks:

• Clicking on any link risks taking you to an external site which could lead to a virus or trojan attack on your PC.
• Agreeing to an application gives that application access to your personal data that you have added to facebook. You don't have any control over what the writers of that application might do with that data.
• If a link or page says you have to "Like" a facebook fan page in order to see the goodies it promises you, it will almost definitely post to your wall and spam all of your friends and contacts walls too. Do you really want that coming from your account?    If you really feel that you have to see what's on that elusive page, don't click Like but instead, go to google, and search for it along with "bypassfanpages". This will usually offer you an alternative way of seeing what you wanted to see, but without having to like the fan page.  But really, they just usually aren't worth it. They're almost all fakes.
• If a link promises to tell you who is stalking you or viewing your profile it is lying.  There is no facebook functionality that allows this information to be recorded.  It's simply not technically available on facebook. All this app will do is gather your personal information and spam your friends. So...Don't Click It.

So, now we've got that out of the way, what can you do?

Firstly, find the facebook "Sophos Security" page and "like" it : Go to https://www.facebook.com/#!/SophosSecurity - and click the LIKE button at the top of the page.  Once you have done this, you will get regular warnings and alerts from Sophos telling you of the latest scams and viruses doing the rounds on facebook. Read them, and learn to recognise what spam links look like.
Next, don't click on anything that promises great things. Honestly. Don't do it. And don't share it with your friends.  Really, they'll thank you for this.
Regularly look at your Privacy Settings for Apps Account -> Privacy Settings -> Apps and Websites -> Edit Your Settings -> Apps You Use, and remove any applications you are not using or which you cannot be confident about.  While these applications are on your profile, they have access to any data you have put into facebook, so remove them when you no longer need them.