Facebook Investigates Porn 'Virus' Attack

Facebook is looking into reports that the site has been hit by a virus that posts hardcore pornography and violent images in users' timelines.

Technology site ZDnet believes that the material is being spread by a "linkspam virus" which tempts users to click on an innocent-looking link, the virus then populates users' profiles with porn.

The BBC reports that a Facebook spokesperson said: "[We are] aware of these reports and we are investigating the issue."

There have been claims that the hacking group Anonymous is behind the attacks, after the group had planned to "destroy" the 700 million-member social network on November 5, but experts do not believe Anonymous is involved.

Angry Facebook users have complained on Twitter about the porn attack, saying that their timelines are filling up with images of sex and mutilated animals. One user said: "Has anyone been on Facebook lately? My newsfeed looks like a porn site."

Another said: "I'm considering deleting my facebook because of all the porn/dead animals and babies. its [sic] disgusting."

The senior technical consultant of security firm Sophos, Graham Cluely, said in a company blog: "It's precisely this kind of problem which is likely to drive people away from the site. Facebook needs to get a handle on this problem quickly, and prevent it from happening again.