Fan Check False Alert

Reports say Fan Check is a virus, and should be avoided at all costs.  I have investigated deeper and found no malicious behavior on this application,  however, as some other web sites report it seems more likely that the rumor about Fan Check has been used to lead users to various malware and spyware ridden sites.

There are no reports on the reputable virus sites, McAfee, Norton, AVG, etc.
The virus supposedly infects your computer and all the contacts on your friends list. 

In it's default state Fan Check only has permission to:

1.  Access my home and profile stream (Wall)
2.  Publish to streams

To put these permission in to context, if I am your friend I am able to write on your wall and read who has written on your wall, with these permissions every one of your friends would be a virus.

According to sources, merely becoming a fan will “infect” your Facebook account, which is next to impossible with these settings.  All other reports about the virus seem to be created by spammers themselves. Google() lists the phrase “facebook fan check virus” as a popular trend, but there lies the problem; if you actually try to search for this phrase, you’ll be bombarded by sites containing malware.

Most sites believe that this is merely a two part hoax: on one hand, you have an application that lets you see who’s been interacting with your Facebook profile. On the other, spammers and malicious hackers are feeding the rumors around this application to lead people to search for a solution, and getting their computers infected by malware in return.

In my humble opinion if you feel unsure you should unistall the application – or any other Facebook application.  Furthermore, don’t search for the “Fan Check Facebook virus,” as it is most likely a hoax and WILL lead to infection futher fueling the false panic.

How to uninstall an application in Facebook:
 
Roll your mouse over settings
Click application settings
from here you can either edit the permissions or click the x to delete the application entirely
 
Happy Computing :)