The wildly popular Be Like Bill Facebook Meme generator may be putting some of its followers at risk if precautions aren't taken when trying to create their own version of the meme.
Security experts have been warning about Internet memes for a long time, but something happened with the Be Like Bill app that created more concern than usual.
First, it was how quickly his fame spread—similar to how quickly Grumpy Cat spread just a few years ago. In addition, there is a well-established Internet, where people already know about Internet memes and once they go viral, they search online for a way to create their own version.
Finally, we know who created this particular meme, the service Blobla.com, a Vietnamese web portal that also provides a Meme generator on website , which many people flocked to use.
Once the meme became popular, the website changed its privacy policy to state: “You will allow us to use, process and monetize your content with our service on a permanent, unlimited, and non-recourse basis.” This prompted a swift response from the USA BBB (Better Business Bureau), which launched an investigation into the service’s practices, as reported in USAToday.
While the backlash was extremely overblown, given that the website only asked people to provide their name and gender, the website agreed to remove this specific clause from its privacy terms.
But the problem remains, even if it doesn't concern the Blobla website.
There are dozens of similar meme generators, even Facebook apps that have influenced this meme. These apps won't be as shy as Blobla when it comes to asking for your personal information.
Some apps and websites may even ask you for your Facebook page credentials so that the app can quickly share the new meme to your account.
These are all scams and the people behind this campaign are only trying to gather as much information as users are willing to give.
Thus, they should avoid any Be Like Bill meme generator that requires more than a name and gender. Users should avoid downloading desktop software or mobile apps that generate this type of meme or any other meme for that matter, as the chances of the program they download containing adware, trojans, PUPs or even worse, the mother of all malware: ransomware, are quite high.
