Facebook urges users to avoid rogue apps

Rogue apps claim to be able to show Facebook users who is viewing their profile

Facebook is warning users about yet another threat on the site, this time a raft of new applications that claim to allow users to see who is viewing their profile.

The popular social networking site said it is "aggressively disabling" the apps, warning users that they do not work and should be avoided.

In a statement, Facebook said: "Don't believe any applications that claim they can show you who's viewing your profile or photo. They can't."

Security expert Rik Ferguson echoed this warning on Trend Micro's Countermeasures blog.

"A wave of applications have been published that promise to reveal the truth about which of your friends are viewing your Facebook profile. The promise is worthless and the apps are bogus," Ferguson wrote.

He added that he hoped this latest wave of rogue apps would prompt Facebook to review its application publishing policy.

"Now that these things are becoming a regular occurrence there must be a tremendous burden being placed on the incident response handlers at Facebook that could be better channeled into an application vetting process," he said.