WTF Facebook - I am royally pissed off!
I MAY UPDATE THIS POST FROM TIME TO TIME AS NEW INFORMATION COMES IN, I might also post separately with a link to this post. STAY TUNED!
OK - another update 9.9.2017: It makes no sense to add to this long post, so I did add another one with a link to this one:
WTF Facebook - Part Two of the Saga
This is my Facebook profile picture.
My Facebook Personal Page is here: https://www.facebook.com/otto.rapp
But I cannot access that page anymore, nor my artist page https://www.facebook.com/ArtistOttoRapp/ (Update 9.9. - got that page back, and one other that I didn't list here, due to friends whom I had installed as administrators, just in case. The added me as admin.) Working on a couple of others, as well as wresting back control over a number of groups I founded.
Just to see what is going on, and to re-establish contact with my closest friends, I opened a account under a different name: https://www.facebook.com/otto.rappottensteiner.9
This is my "new" profile pic on that page:
Now if you read the details below, the fact that I opened this new account from the same computer that Facebook claims is infected and wants me to download a Kaspersky scan proves that this is bogus!
Update: I now tried to log in from a different computer, and as it says further down in the Norton Community Forum post comment, I get the same bogus message from Facebook on there as well, but again, the "new" account I opened opens without problem!
READ ALL ABOUT IT:
I've been trying to share a web page on Facebook when I get a message to log in. I log in, this page comes up:
In case you can't read the tex from this screen clip, here is a LINK TO A LARGER FILE, this is what it says:
Let's Check Your Device for Malicious Software
Hi Otto, we're continuously working to keep your account secure. We've noticed that this device may be infected with malicious software. To continue to use Facebook, you can either use other devices or clean this device by downloading the scanner provided by Facebook and Kaspersky Lab.
I have Norton Security, I ran a quick check, nothing found
So I am checking out the Norton History:
SEE IT LARGER HERE
Scrolling further down the history, I find that several attempts occurred on seemingly a daily basis to screw with my Security Software. These are blocked and classified as Medium. Here is one of the (identical) type blocked by Norton:
Category: Norton Product Tamper Protection
Date & Time,Risk,Activity,Status,Recommended Action,Date,Actor,Actor PID,Target,Target PID,Action,Reaction
9/8/2017 12:54:57 PM,Medium,Unauthorized access blocked (Access Process Data),Blocked,No Action Required,9/8/2017 12:54:57 PM,C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WBEM\WMIPRVSE.EXE,7844,C:\Program Files (x86)\Norton Internet Security\Engine\22.10.1.10\nis.exe,2348,Access Process Data,Unauthorized access blocked
Running the text of this Facebook message in a search, I find this in my Norton Community Forum:
https://community.norton.com/en/forums/i-have-been-blocked-logging-facebook-it-claims-i-have-malware-and-must-add-eset-program-scan - this was posted 12.7.2015 - on top it says "This forum thread needs a solution" which means that for over 2 years, nobody found a solution yet.
But scrolling through the tread, I find this detailed description from swamper777 in his comment posted on 7.6.2017
here is the link to the comment:
https://community.norton.com/en/comment/7492371#comment-7492371
If you open the link, aside from the comment, you will also find 3 PDF documents attached.
But for the comment, so you wont have to follow the URL, I copy the entire text below :
QUOTE:
"Re: I have been blocked from logging onto Facebook as it claims that I have malware and must add a ESET program to scan all my files
Posted: 07-Jun-2017 | 6:01AM • Edited: 07-Jun-2017 | 6:03AM • Permalink
I've been using Facebook for nine years. During that time, I've only been put in Facebook jail about seven years ago, and then, only for 24 hours. I have 800+ FB friends, all of whom I've met in person or otherwise known in other circles.
I'm also an IT security specialist with 29 years of experience, one who has written 20+ articles for Network World.
It is my opinion that Facebook use of it's "Let's Check Your Device for Malicious Software" pop-up (attached) has nothing to do with "malicious software" as it claims, but rather, as a means of gaining access to the computing devices and personal information of people it has, for whatever reason, deemed "unfavorable." I base my opinion on the process of systematic elimination, as described below:
I run several anti-virus/malware programs on my computer, including Norton Security and Norton's recommended Malwarebytes. The only problem any of them found was pua.opencandy, a low-threat undesirable which I fixed before reattempting my Facebook login, still to no joy -- same "malicious software" error message.
I next attempted to login to Facebook using other browsers, including Firefox and Opera. same "malicious software" error message.
I flushed the cache of all browsers, system-wide, and attempted to log in using a different local machine user account on my computer (same FB user account): same "malicious software" error message.
CONCLUSION 1: This issue has nothing to do with any specific browser.
- I moved to a backup computer, one I haven't used in about three weeks. Result: same "malicious software" error message.
CONCLUSION 2: This issue has nothing to do with my computer.
- I hiked over to the library, and asked a friend to login to their Facebook account using one of the library's machines. No problem. After they logged out, I tried logging in using my Facebook account. Result: same "malicious software" error message.
CONCLUSION 3: This issue has nothing to do with my IP address, but may have to do with my FB account.
- I repeated Step 5 using a friend's computer. He could access FB, but I could not. After I logged out, he was able to log back in without a problem.
CONCLUSION 4: This issue not only has nothing to do with either any machine or any browser, but is definitely associated with my FB user account.
- I researched this problem on several different user forums, including both here and on Facebook. None of the information I found conflicted with the steps I took and conclusions I reached as denoted above. In fact, the account about the lady who contacted the Better Business Bureau who subsequently contacted Facebook who magically resolved the issue confirms the conclusions I have reached above. I also noted that Facebook usually responds to users' posts in their Help forum. They did not, however, respond to any of the five posts reporting this problem in their Help forum.
CONCLUSION 5: Facebook may not be interested in helping resolve this issue, because for them, it's not a legitimate issue.
- I asked my friend to come over to my apartment, login using my computer and browser, to see if he can duplicate the problem. I log in and receive the "malicious software" message. I log out. He logs in with his own FB user account. Result: NO error message. I log in, receive the error message. He logs in, no error message. We repeat this several times just to be certain, both with cache flushing, no flushing, and multiple browsers.
CONCLUSION 6: Conclusion 4 was thoroughly and incontrovertibly verified. This issue has absolutely NOTHING to do with any purported "malicious software" on my machine (or on any machine) or in my or any other browser. The ONLY possible culprit is my specific login (along with the logins of others who have been put into the same penalty box by Facebook for whatever reason).
I therefore surmise that Facebook may have implemented this as a means of doing one of two things:
A. Blocking users whom it deems "undesirable." Unfortunately, all it takes is just one FB moderator to block a legitimate user, even if all that user did was disagree with the status quo with respect to an issue like abortion or man-made climate change, and there's no way to contact FB without first allowing them to scan your system.
B. Creating a false premise upon which it can gain access to a user's computer. I would hate to think that any of the four antivirus/malware products with which Facebook has partnered (Kaspersky, ESET, TrendMicro, F-Secure) would ever be complicit in such an affair, but given the observations and test results as stated above, along with Facebook's decidedly left political bent and the countless similar tactics the left has used over the last decade at all levels, it's entirely reasonable to question that this is indeed what Facebook is doing now. The problem with this is that the only way to contact Facebook at this point is to allow them to scan your entire system, during which time they could record the entire contents of your hard drive - a definite NO-NO with respect to security. Furthermore, this even gives them the ability to actually place files on your hard drive during that process, also a BIG FAT NO-NO.
I have every confidence in Norton Security to detect any such problem that Facebook purports to exist, should it actually exist. In fact, I implore Norton to find out what in the world Facebook purports to exist and work with them and their four partners in order to identify and eliminate this supposed "malicious software" threat FB claims is on my computer but which I have clearly and incontrovertibly proven not to be present.
In the meantime, I am filing a formal report with my Congressman, asking that he open a Congressional investigation into Facebook's deceptive practices."
UNQUOTE
So my conclusion to all this is:
SCREW FACEBOOK
UPDATE:
since initially posting this on Steemit, I had copied the post to several other blogs, among them on my private network (doesn't make sense to post the link, since the network is private and only members can access it).
These are the public links:
https://ottorapp.wordpress.com/2017/09/08/wtf-facebook-i-am-royally-pissed-off/
https://artofthemystic.blogspot.co.at/2017/09/wtf-facebook-i-am-royally-pissed-off.html
http://4art.com/profiles/blogs/wtf-facebook-i-am-royally-pissed-off
OK - another update 9.9.2017: It makes no sense to add to this long post, so I did add another one with a link to this one:
WTF Facebook - Part Two of the Saga
UPDATE 9/13/2017 - I am finally out of Facebook Jail!
I'm no surprised honestly. This is one to pass on to a tech journalist.
what bugs me most is that I am admin on a bunch of pages and groups, which of course I cannot access now.
Got a new ID with a different name, just so I can stay in touch with some of my friends: https://www.facebook.com/otto.rappottensteiner.9 -
maybe friend me there too - I might have made a request already, since Peter was the first one I could find and he responded right away, so I ticked on his friends list.
Aside from Steemit, which I now won't share on Facebook or even mention (I suspect it has something to do with that), I will write it all on my various blogs, once I got this post updated with more info!
Yes, I suspect that might be the reason you were blocked, unless you were posting political stuff. I was just watching a video about this very topic, and it is starting to become very serious, the level of censorship that is starting to happen. The reason being, we are now seeing the emergence of tech monopolies, which are starting to operate like dictators... literally.
I would agree with you, under no circumstance let FB run that scan software on your computer.
It's a damn pity that you did not set up secondary accounts, or grant trusted people control over your FB page, as Peter and I did. You'd have a back door then.
I just had a second thought, your Steemit posts are probably considered "political" because you are posting links to "free speach" website... meaning alt media... meaning fake news ect.
your last line about "free speech" websites: yes, you are right. I had shared articles from such "heinous news papers" such as The Guardian, Huffington Post, Washington Post, "the failing" New York Times and others. But my suspicion is first and foremost Steemit. I had shared most of my Steemit posts on my personal, as well as my business pages. You had talked before about linking to other source content on Facebook, and now I think they are not just 'discriminating' against such posts in the news feed (as you once said), but it appears now that they are going a step further.
I have seen many complaints like this, mostly from YouTubers however, but, I think as I mentioned, there was a recent video on RT that was talking about the censoring that the Silicon Valley oligarchs are implementing, because their election candidate did not win. However, it is coming to light that have double standards on the issues that they preach support for, gender and ethnicity, (we dare not use the R word). It all comes down to profit. You promoting other social media sites hurts their bottom line. Maybe we are taking this too far, but I'm tending more to the side of, yes, you are being punished and blacklisted.
idk - I think it depends if the moderator that canned me had a bad day or didn't get any nookie ....... those individuals come from all walks of life, religions, political views and locations. I don't think this is a targeted campaign (other than my suspicion that it has to do with sharing largely Steemit posts) and either side of the spectrum is capable and certainly willing to pile the dirt on the other. Basically, duck when the shit is flying from all directions...................
Quack! =)
UPDATE 9/13/2017 - I am finally out of Facebook Jail!
I got Peter on my artist page, can't remember if he is on my VA page, but I would guess so, because I also got Liba on it, that I know for sure. I will be asking these people to put me (my new id) in as a admin
Excellent! So there is a backdoor.
Thanks for the detailed account of this freaky corporate practice. A possibility that you didn't mention is that FB may be partnering with some law enforcement org which targets "undesirables" for surveillance.
thanks - now that made my day complete, lol
Don't worry, we're all on the kill list :)
They're (g00gle, f*c!book, utube) just deleting the internet and free speech...All canadian online newspapers have been banned from commenting on for about two years now.
They don't like what you say, they delete you so steem on....
thanks Sally - that's the plan.
UPDATE 9/13/2017 - I am finally out of Facebook Jail!
Yup. This same exact thing happened to me a few weeks ago. They make you feel like you have no other choice but to let them intrude with their antivirus, so I just did it, because I wanted to post. Interestingly, this was the first time it happened, and it seems to be related to my first round of posting of my SteemIt posts. Perhaps "SuckaBerg & Friends" are trying to figure out the LEAST DAMAGING way to fend off the inevitable damage done to their consumer base by SteemIt. Thanks for posting this...
so what happened when you clicked the link? Did you have security software? If so, how did it react? My Norton would classify anything as malware that tries to scan my computer.
I don't think I would even be able to run Free Norton Scan - i.e. the same company. Can't say for sure since I haven't tried.
UPDATE 9/13/2017 - I am finally out of Facebook Jail!