Viral Facebook copyright message is nothing but a scam

If you recently came across a viral Facebook privacy notice that mentioned copyrights of your content, photos and videos, you should be forewarned that this notice is yet another Facebook scam. Facebook recently updated their privacy guidelines and also allowed users to comment on these changes for the first time. Unfortunately, this has led to the spread of this viral scam which many people have already fallen for.

The following viral message reaches Facebook users and encourages them to copy and paste the text on their wall so that their content ‘can be placed under copyright laws’. It is further stated that if the message is not posted on the wall at least once, all the photos and information contained in the user profile can be used by Facebook and other parties. Facebook scams like this have been reported in the past and requires users to be vigilant even if they have an updated version of the best anti-spam software.

Facebook privacy notice

The primary text of the post is as follows:
In response to the new Facebook guidelines I hereby declare that my copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, comics, paintings, professional photos and videos, etc. (as a result of the Berner Convention). For commercial use of the above my written consent is needed at all times!

We would like to warn Facebook users here that this message is definitely a fake. The fact is that all content stored on Facebook can be used by the social network, subject to the terms and conditions listed by them in their privacy guidelines. This permission is granted to Facebook the minute an account is created with them. The only way to alter how photos and videos are shared by others is through the privacy settings. Such information will not be safeguarded if this message is posted by a user on his/her wall. Facebook is a breeding ground for social engineering tricks like this as we recently discussed in the Facebook Like Scam post.

Our users should be aware that copyrights cannot be gained in this manner and this entire message is a scam. It is not possible to protect Facebook data with a simple wall post. According to legal experts, “Facebook users cannot retroactively negate any of the privacy or copyright terms they agreed to when they signed up for their Facebook accounts nor can they unilaterally alter or contradict any new privacy or copyright terms instituted by Facebook simply by posting a contrary legal notice on their Facebook walls”.

Facebook scams are a common way to fool users into sharing dubious posts that immediately attract attention. Attackers commonly use such posts to spread the reach of their scams and users must be aware and forewarned about their effects. Facebook security is crucial because there is a large amount of personal data stored over the social network that can be misused by attackers in innovative ways.

Rahul Thadani

Rahul Thadani


39 Comments

Leave a Reply to Rahul Thadani Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

CAPTCHA Image

  1. Thanks for the update….!!

    Reply
  2. Avatar Prafulla nandaneNovember 27, 2012 at 4:29 PM

    Our users should be aware that copyrights cannot be gained in this manner and this entire message is a scam. It is not possible to protect Facebook data with a simple wall post. According to legal experts, “Facebook users cannot retroactively negate any of the privacy or copyright terms they agreed to when they signed up for their Facebook accounts nor can they unilaterally alter or contradict any new privacy or copyright terms instituted by Facebook simply by posting a contrary legal notice on their Facebook walls”.

    Reply
  3. Avatar Abhimanyu singhNovember 27, 2012 at 4:31 PM

    THANK YOU.

    Reply
  4. Avatar sagapr yawaleNovember 27, 2012 at 4:31 PM

    quick heal is best for ;, lm,lm

    Reply
  5. Avatar INDRAJEET KUMARNovember 27, 2012 at 4:49 PM

    I hAVE PROBLUM WITH UPDATING.

    Reply
  6. Thanks for giving update

    Reply
  7. why I get it too difficult to update?

    Reply
  8. Thank you

    Reply
  9. why quick heal update every three days

    Reply
    • Rahul Thadani Rahul ThadaniNovember 28, 2012 at 9:53 AM

      Hi Pawan,
      This is to protect you from the latest threats as they arise. The Quick Heal database is updated every time your machine connects to the Internet.
      Regards.

      Reply
  10. Avatar Arunesh KarmakarNovember 27, 2012 at 10:03 PM

    Thank you very much for the news.

    Reply
  11. Avatar Swapnil ShindeNovember 27, 2012 at 10:37 PM

    Thank you for this news…..

    Reply
  12. Quick Heal Rocks….
    Best Antivirus Programme…..

    Reply
  13. thanx lot sir… to give me this imp information….

    Reply
  14. Avatar Sailendra jenaNovember 28, 2012 at 6:46 AM

    i can’t open my gmail account warning message auire on this page

    Reply
  15. Avatar Sailendra jenaNovember 28, 2012 at 6:56 AM

    When i log to my g mail account a page interrupt

    THE SERVER CERTIFICATE IS YET VALID MESSAGE IS ACCURE

    Reply
  16. Avatar Sandeep SainiNovember 28, 2012 at 7:43 AM

    Hi,
    I am not able to scan my mobile phones SAMSUNG GALAXY YOUNG DUOS AND SAMSUNG GALAXY POCKET in your Pc2mobile scan. I have already submitted two tickets on 14 Oct 12 and 16 Oct 12 vide Ticket ID: ZYN-656-59668 and Ticket ID: XZI-326-45941 and still waiting for solution for my problem and i just want to ask you is this how your support teams works ?

    Reply
    • Hi Sandeep,
      Support for smartphones on our PC2Mobile scan requires inputs from the OEM and many times this support is not provided by them due to many reasons. We apologize for the delay from our support side and request you to call our support number 927-22-33-000. In the meantime, you can download the trial version of Quick Heal Mobile Security over Google Play and utilize that.
      Regards.

      Reply
  17. could you please tell me how to get the key to register again with my quickheal?

    Reply
  18. It’s a fact, as said in the post above, that, “users should be aware that copyrights cannot be gained in this manner”. IT TOOK ME NEARLY two&half to three years TO OBTAIN A COPYRIGHT CERTIFICATE, that to, after complying with a lengthy procedure with the various AUTHORITIES.

    It’s like “NOBODY MAKES A FOOL OF ANYBODY”, but, “SOMEBODY OFFERS HIMSELF TO BE MADE A FOOL OF”.

    Reply
  19. Hi,

    Does “Quick Heal” have a life time (PC life time) license for their products?-I use quick heal on my office laptop and VIPRE (with a PC life time license) on my personal laptop

    Reply
    • Hi Reeben,
      Quick Heal products come with a 1 year license or a 3 year license, for single user or multiple users. Apart from this, we offer several great benefits like excellent technical support, timely updates, extra renewal months for free and 3 year license for the price of 2 years. Please let me know if you require more information.
      Regards.

      Reply
  20. Avatar sujit kumar royNovember 28, 2012 at 2:17 PM

    quick heal is best

    Reply
  21. good post.. good pic..

    Reply
  22. how much days does the antivirus deactivate if I did not update it ??

    Reply
    • Rahul Thadani Rahul ThadaniNovember 29, 2012 at 9:59 AM

      Hi Amol,
      There is an expiry date for your license. Quick Heal antivirus will not update beyond that date. The date depends on whether you got a 1 year license or a 3 year license on the date of purchase.
      Regards.

      Reply
  23. y my msg and comment r not send to any one??????, y it is showing error????????????

    Reply
  24. 1 more thing y quick heal is taking that much time in updating

    Reply
    • Hi Vandana,
      This could be due to your Internet connection speed. The updates occur faster over faster connections.
      Regards.

      Reply
  25. thanks for information

    Reply
  26. Avatar Ranbir manoranjanNovember 29, 2012 at 1:03 PM

    thnks…………..

    Reply
  27. Thanks alot rahul for updating us with more scam

    Reply
  28. hey please please please grnat me unusable product key of quick heal
    iloss my product key 🙁 at shivanshvermav45@gmail.com

    Reply
    • Hi Shivansh,
      If you have lost your product key and require our assistance, you can contact our support team on 927-22-33-000. They can help you to find your product key.
      Regards.

      Reply