A security loophole on Facebook has allowed about a million accounts – real and fake – to generate at least 100 million "likes" and comments to manipulate online social reputation
At least 100 million likes and comments were generated through the accounts. Representation pic
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A security loophole on Facebook has allowed about a million accounts – real and fake – to generate at least 100 million "likes" and comments to manipulate online social reputation.
The researchers, from the University of Iowa in the US and Lahore University of Management Science in Pakistan, found sites that operate 'collusion networks', which rapidly generate likes for free. Facebook posts that receive a lot of likes are more likely to be placed higher in other people's feeds.
This means that users with fake likes can ultimately generate significantly more attention and influence. In order to participate, users have to grant the networks wide-ranging access to their accounts, so that those accounts can be harnessed to like others, researchers said. The team warns the exploit can be used for darker purposes.
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