Why do I get a prompt to download a file from facebook?

[David]

Whenever I visit any Facebook page on Internet Explorer 8 (I believe) I get a download prompt for a file "gzip_detect.php" from Facebook?? I highly believe it to be a virus or other type of harmful software, but am unsure. Does anybody have information about this?


Also, I've tried searching it up and found out some other people have this problem. I Looked everywhere for the specific file and I cant seem to find much. Help please!!!!

[globeweasel]

lots of spammers on facebook. and they don't care. and some are more then spammers. delete yer account if you can, reboot and clean your system of anything related to facebook. couple days, make a new account if you must

[john]

It's almost definitely a virus. Also, I advise you to not use internet explorer, as it is VERY insecure.

[john]

reading the source and looking at the code the actual line is "/common/gzip_detect.php" in the code that is about line number 219, I get it as well. Checked the file and it scans as a picture file, but i cannot open it. McAfee and Norton didnt detect it as a virus, however it will popup the information bar. I am hoping Facebook will tell us what they added to their page that is causing so many to get that line.

[Herbert]

I have the same problem on my wordpress blog. I got the first prompt from Facebook and downloaded it !

[Lyka]

Hi,

First of all. There are many rants forming about this 'gzip_detect.php', now that it hits the spot on the google trends. But one thing is for sure and that is - This is not a virus, malware or Trojan.

gzip_detect.php is a file for decompressing images, pictures, or other script. Normally, facebook doesn't load this one on your browser and have you save it. Because it is so small. But on some strange instances. Facebook server lags and have some errors that's why this happens.

Certainly, this is not a threat, I would be even more alarmed when you see a link to your facebook with the word, "Shocking Video Scandal" Scam. Source to Protect yourself: http://j.mp/cXTUxW

Or, that facebook like trojan. Source to Protect yourself: http://j.mp/facebook-like-worm


Hope that helps.

[mary davis]

I also have this on facebook only, posted on facebook help no answer so far, and it is a threat when it pops up ever 5-10 seconds and u hit cancel everytime

[OddDuck]

This just started happening to me. It doesn't happen using Internet Explorer 8, but does happen using AOL's software. It may not be harmful, but it's quite the annoyance. Any way to make it stop? Will it go away on it's own? Thanks :-)

UPDATE: After about 36 hours of it showing this message, it just stopped coming up on it's own. Guess the "glitch" of the system lagging got corrected. Hey, I'll take it!

[Sarcasticcactus876]

I understand Myspace is rebuilding it's site to look and feel more like Facebook!

[Joe]

Here's what I did: I sent a Suggestion to FB (b/c there's no tech support) to have that file stop trying to download. After I did that, I reloaded Internet Explorer 8. The reload made my PC restart, and there was a Windows update that I had to do, and which restarted my PC. The problem ended and I don't know which was the one that did it; I only know that I did them both and got the right result.