How To Remove the “Look Who Died” Facebook Virus

“Look Who Died” is a Facebook hacking scam you may receive as a message on Facebook Messenger from what seems like one of your friends. This message often includes a simple prompt asking you to open a malicious link to view who recently died.

If you click on this malicious link, you may get a virus on your computer or phone that can give the hacker access to your personal information and cause your device to slow down. The hacker may also be able to access your Facebook profile, which enables them to send similar messages to your friends to continue the hacking chain.

That’s why removing the “Look Who Died” Facebook Messenger virus isn’t only essential for your online security but for the security of your Facebook friends as well. Here's what to know about the "Look Who Died" scam, how to prevent it using the best antivirus software, and what to do if your device is compromised by malware.

How to remove the “Look Who Died” Facebook Messenger virus

The “Look Who Died” Facebook Messenger virus attempts to pique your curiosity to get you to click on a malicious link that downloads the virus to your device. Once the virus is on your device, it may steal your personally identifiable information and other data it finds.

To stay safe, find out how to know if your computer has a virus and follow these four steps to remove the “Look Who Died” virus from your Facebook account and personal device.

1. Remove the Facebook virus from your account

There are a few signs that your Facebook account may be infected with a virus, such as:

• Your account is posting spam.
• Your account has certain activities you don’t remember performing.
• Your account has unusual login locations you didn’t visit.

The virus may gain permissions to certain Facebook functions. Check your permissions and remove any items that look suspicious by following these steps:

1. Go to Account Settings.
2. Select Apps on the left-side menu.
3. Find suspicious apps you don’t recognize.
4. Click on the X to remove their access.

After you remove these permissions, you should also secure your account by using a strong password and updating your security settings to activate two-factor authentication.

You should also warn your friends that your account was hacked and ask them to ignore any suspicious activity, especially if the virus sent messages or posted anything on your profile.

2. Run a scan using your antivirus software

The next step to clear out the “Look Who Died” virus is to run a virus scan. You can usually learn how to remove malware by using antivirus software. To run a scan using your antivirus software:

1. Open your antivirus software. 

2. Depending on your software, select the Run a Virus Scan or Start a Scan option.

3. Allow the antivirus to quarantine or delete suspicious files once the scan is complete.

3. Remove the virus from your browser extensions

In some cases, a virus may attach itself to your browser by disguising itself as one of your browser extensions.

Chrome:

1. Click on the three dots at the top-right corner of your Chrome browser.
2. Select Settings.
3. Go to Privacy and Security in the left menu.
4. Click Check Now under the Safety Check section.
5. Remove any browser extensions that are suspicious or problematic.

Safari:

1. Head to Preferences in your Safari browser.
2. Click on Extensions.
3. Remove any extensions that you don’t recognize.

Microsoft Edge:

1. Select Extensions on the right of your browser.
2. Look for any suspicious extensions that should be removed.
3. Click more actions next to the extension you want to remove.
4. Select Remove from Microsoft Edge.

Firefox:

1. Navigate to the Menu button.
2. Select Add-ons and themes.
3. Click on Extensions.
4. Find any extensions that should be removed.
5. Click on the three dots and select Remove.

4. Delete any virus remnants

Make sure to remove all the virus remnants after your antivirus software deletes any suspicious files from your device. Use the name of the suspicious files to search for any remnants that may be connected to the virus.

Head to the search bar on your Mac or PC and search for the name of the file that was flagged as malware. Delete any remaining files you find. To fully delete the files:

• macOS: Drag and drop the files into the trash bin and empty it to ensure they’re fully removed.
• Windows: Right-click on the files and select delete, then go to your trash bin and empty it to fully remove them.

How to avoid the “Look Who Died” virus

There are several precautions you can take to avoid a Facebook Messenger scam or virus, such as the “Look Who Died” virus.

Avoid suspicious messages and links

A simple way to avoid the Facebook Messenger “Look Who Died” virus is not to open suspicious messages or links that seem unusual. You can check a link to a page without actually opening it by hovering over the link to view the URL, which is the exact internet address the page uses. 

A scammer may attempt to fake a Facebook page by creating a URL similar to, but not exactly the same as, Facebook. You should generally avoid URLs that you don’t recognize or feel may be suspicious.

Use strong antivirus software

Another step to improve your cybersecurity and avoid the “Look Who Died” virus is to download and install strong antivirus software on your devices. An antivirus scans your computer or mobile device for any viruses or malware and can help protect your information if a virus infects one of your devices.

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Improve your Facebook account security

You can keep your information safe by using the available security features on Facebook. You can create a strong password for your account and ensure that your password is different between different accounts and devices.

You can also add another security layer to your account by using two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication can stop scammers from accessing your account even if they have your Facebook password by requiring them to enter a unique code sent to your phone or email.

Don’t download files from unknown sources

Another way to avoid the “Look Who Died” virus is to avoid downloading files from unknown or suspicious sources. If you do not recognize the source of the file, or if the link or file name seems suspicious, do not download it.

Other social media scams to avoid

The “Look Who Died” virus is far from the only security risk present on social media platforms these days. There are several other security risks and scams to keep an eye out for, including:

• Facebook user profile copies: A scammer creates a Facebook profile by copying someone else’s information and images. They then send new friend requests and unsuspecting text messages that contain malicious links to the available connections via the friend list, hoping that their victims may click one of the links.
• High school reunions: This phishing scam tries to lure you into clicking a link to reconnect with high school friends or to see the latest news about people you went to high school with.
• Great deals: This scam attempts to entice you into clicking a link by hacking one of your connections and using their profile to post about a great deal they got, a new item they love, or some other way to lure you into clicking the link.
• “Get to know you” quizzes: This scam uses quizzes that ask about your favorite foods, place of birth, and other information to get details from you that may help scammers figure out your password or get access to your account.

FAQs

Bottom line

Scammers are continually getting more creative and finding new ways to prey on unsuspecting users. It’s essential to be cautious when using Facebook Messenger and other communication platforms. Hackers and scammers use these platforms by mimicking one of your friends or family in order to hack your account or download viruses to your devices.

If you receive a strange Facebook message from one of your friends, be cautious before opening anything in the message. You can always reach out to this friend to confirm they sent you something via Facebook before opening the link or the file in the message.

You should also use antivirus software to add a layer of protection that allows you to detect viruses quickly on your devices. 

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Author Details

Andrew Adams

About the Author

Andrew Strom Adams is a freelance writer focused on online privacy and digital security. He writes on various topics to help individuals protect themselves on the internet. Andrew has worked in legal marketing, technology, and startups. He has more than 12 years of experience in marketing and communications. He holds an M.B.A. from Westminster College and a B.A. in journalism from Oklahoma Baptist University. When he’s not writing, he’s playing with his two kids or watching reality TV.