ALERT: Facicons Is Spreading Facebook Emoticon Spam

Want to add emoticons to your Facebook status update? There are a million applications to accomplish this (see our list of Facebook emoticons apps), however Facicons now appears to be spreading spam on Facebook rather than friendly smiles. When you update your status with Facicons, there’s a message which states “I’ve added smileys to this status update. Wanna see them? Go to http://s.facicons.com/”. It then prompts you to install the application, thus continuing the cycle of emoticon spam. While we previously thought this application was friendly, it only appears to be good at spreading spam.

Right now we’re seeing thousands of people using this application to try and add emoticons. The bottom line is this: don’t install Facicons. There are plenty of other applications that will work at positing emoticons and this isn’t one of them. Just search for “I’ve added smilies” on Facebook (or click here) to see the numerous people who are spaming their friends with this application. You can see a screenshot of the spam spreading through status updates.

Make sure to share this article with your friends so they don’t install the application.

Thanks to Vaidas Pilkauskas for the tip!

Facicon Spam Screenshot

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1845539 Comments2010-09-04+17%3A48%3A16Nick+O%27Neill »

i've added facicons but i want to know how to disable it?/ my facebook is freasing.. is this link is tne reason

Comment by Maro Bayloun Darwich — September 4, 2010 @ 3:08 pm
FB, the best website for spam. I LOVE spam!!!!!

1st rule of thumb, 3rd party apps blow chunks. They're garbage, don't install them. FB blew it letting unverified people do this stuff. The idiots should have stuck to proprietary apps so EVERY damn body has the SAME one. These dumbass things are worthless when there are 1000s out there. You and your friend have to be using the SAME one in order for it to work.

Comment by Guest — September 4, 2010 @ 3:32 pm
Hey,

Maro, it is easy to install, If chrome, go to extensions, if firefox, go to addons, if explorer go to add remove.

BTW Nick, i think you got it wrong, when the other party doesn't have "facicons" installed, he/she will see this message prompting…Just like "Facemoods" and "Social Plus".

It is also stated in their "FAQ"

"Since smileys are not available as part of the Facebook application for the comment or status fields, your friends must have Facicons installed in order to enjoy them. Therefore, when you send a smiley to a friend that doesn’t have Facicons , your friend will receive a link to Facicons with an explanation regarding what he needs to do in order to view the smileys you sent."

Comment by Tomas — September 4, 2010 @ 3:46 pm
Thank you for this info. I didn’t add it because it didn’t seem legit and it seemed like a lot of people were getting but because I was unsure I thought that being cautious was the way to go.

Comment by Beth — September 4, 2010 @ 9:02 pm
It could be that a lack of understanding as to the nature of Facicons has prompted you to post this alert.

Facicons is an appliacation which enables users to post emoticons right in the their facebook status and comments – a feature which is not available via facebook (and only very partially available via the Facebook API).

In our FAQ page at http://www.facicons.com/faq.html we clearly state that:

"Since smileys are not available as part of the Facebook application for the comment or status fields, your friends must have Facicons installed in order to enjoy them. Therefore, when you send a smiley to a friend that doesn’t have Facicons , your friend will receive a link to Facicons with an explanation regarding what he needs to do in order to view the smileys you sent."

This is the way other services such as Facemoods (which you reccomended in your post http://www.allfacebook.com/facebook-emoticons-app... notifies users of its services.

Further more, other application that provide simillar services such as bandoo, practice the same method of notification.

Nothing has changed in our application since you wrote about us in your original post in July and we have been as up-front and transparent regarding the way our application works in our FAQ and our TOS. We do not attempt to trick or mislead our users in any way.

You may have been alerted regarding Facicons because our application is being used by many people.

In light of this, calling Facicons spam is unfairly deamonising and harmfull to us.

On this basis, I would appreciate a clarifying post regarding Facicons in order to prevent further damage to our name.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding Facicons.

I am also open to a phone call regarding this.

Comment by Danny — September 5, 2010 @ 1:17 pm
I have only noticed that link attached with facicons on facebook pages that have helped me know how to add them. I do not see that link anymore and every virus scan I have rund does not show this as a virus or any type of spam. This site is the only one so far listed saying this could be a problem. I would like to know what problem will be caused by clicking on the link and downloading the application. I will remove the application if I can see a problem other than the link that is attached.

Comment by Ray Fitch — September 6, 2010 @ 7:35 am
I recently downloaded through firefox this facicons and I want

to delete it because it is causing my script from working so I really can't use facebook. I went to my control panel to the add/remove and it does not show that I even have it

Please Please can someone tell me what to do I want it gone

as fast as I can get it gone Thank you please respond.soon

Comment by renie_snow@yahoo.com — September 6, 2010 @ 10:46 am
Hi Renie,

Don't know why you can't find them on your Control Panel, but either way, go to Tools, addons and remove it from there, from my experience tough this is not suppose to cause any script problems on your PC.

Hope thit helps.

Comment by Ron — September 6, 2010 @ 9:40 pm
i wanna get rid of themv but i cant :'( :@

Comment by Hayley — September 9, 2010 @ 4:29 pm
Is there a WAY you can get rid of them? It was really cool the first few days. And now it takes up my whole profile.. I don't want em know more. Can anyone help me.. PLEASE!?!?

Comment by HaleyAkaLilMuffin — September 10, 2010 @ 12:55 am
How to disable facicons???? I don't like it.

Comment by irritated01 — September 10, 2010 @ 4:24 am
"If chrome, go to extensions, if firefox, go to addons, if explorer go to add remove."—it helps!

Comment by kasjauis — September 10, 2010 @ 4:27 am
ggggrrrr i cant get ride of it, it's not letting me post stuff on my friends wall with it

Comment by louise — September 15, 2010 @ 8:34 am
where do u find extensions? omg its annoying

Comment by guest — September 15, 2010 @ 8:53 am
how the hell u get rid of it i cant post L.O.L or faces

Comment by katie — September 15, 2010 @ 10:38 am
How do I uninstall Facicons?

For Internet Explorer Users – Simply go the start menu/control panel, click on add/remove program and remove Facicons.
For FireFox users – Go to the FireFox menu, click on tools/Add-ons, and remove Facicons.
For Google Chrome users – Go to the customize menu, click Extensions and click Uninstall next to the Facicons item.

Source: Facicon

Comment by sarahwanderlust — September 17, 2010 @ 10:54 am
whre is the customize menu i cant find it! grr

Comment by kaaaattt — September 17, 2010 @ 1:46 pm
well i just think it is plum stupid…on the Facicions part..you download them..and then when you don't want them you cant get rid of them…i have tried everything..nothing works so not what???????

Comment by donna parker — September 17, 2010 @ 11:31 pm
I can't get rid of them and I really hate them and I didn't even download it .. it was my little sister and now I really need to kill her and I also tried to remove it from control panel and its still there .. can canyone tell me what to do ?

Comment by rana — September 18, 2010 @ 8:45 pm
They're sooooo annoying, i hate them!!!! AND I CAN'T GET RID OF THEM :'(((((((( annoying little crap :@

Comment by Tamara — September 20, 2010 @ 6:49 am
I am also have the same problem i cant find it to remove it i looked every were plz HELP

Comment by Trace — September 21, 2010 @ 5:28 am
In the top right corner of chrome click the spanner icon, Then go to tools and open the little side menu thing (the arrow) Then scroll down that menu to extensions. And next to where it says facicons click uninstall and its gone.. To work that out I used 3 different sites and worked em all together. Hope this helps cause I sure was pissed off before I worked this out.. lol.

Hope you can understand it.

Comment by Ghost — September 22, 2010 @ 4:54 am
No matter how "open" and "up-front" your "application" is, it still adds unnecessery spam and annoyance to those facebook users who do not wish to install any extra crap to their browsers and if other apps are doing the same thing, it doesn't change a single thing: In every comment, there's extra 4 lines of text with your url.

Comment by @rasjani — September 23, 2010 @ 1:56 pm
Dear Danny,
I LOVE this app.. And wish to have it in my FB as long as it doesn't give me any trouble. Only once, whenever i put in a simple icon like , a warning of my comment can't be posted due to it being blocked was written. But its good now.. so i'm sticking to it. Hope there will be no problem again. TQ!

Comment by Tink — September 23, 2010 @ 10:44 pm
How do I get rid of it I installed it then unitstalled it after like 5 minutes I saw this annd I just want it to completly go is there a way ?

Comment by emily — September 25, 2010 @ 11:59 am
i don't know how to go to extensions.
i know you go to customized links………but from there nothing says extentions? more help???

Comment by Anonymous — October 4, 2010 @ 10:00 pm
Thank you Ghost..it worked..my god I panicked for a mo..so helpful..thank you once again my friend

Comment by Pauline Minors — October 5, 2010 @ 6:22 am
Done it..thank you for your help!!

Comment by Pauline Minors — October 5, 2010 @ 7:15 am
i can't find facicons in the Google chrome customize menu extension .. (((( what will i do .. i want to get rid of it .. ihate it much T_T

Comment by Aizel Sacatrapuz — October 5, 2010 @ 8:21 am
FINALLY! i removed it ! thanks to this website .. Godbless you

Comment by Aizel — October 5, 2010 @ 8:25 am
If u have CCleaner, u can uninstall it from there..

Comment by Marianne — October 6, 2010 @ 6:31 am
facebook just prompted me to remove facicons, its shite anyway. gladly removed it! thanx for removal tips, had been searching my applications for it, now its gone

Comment by sarah — October 6, 2010 @ 11:30 pm
hey…i cant get rid og facicons and it is anoying now so plz can you help me :L

Comment by gabrielle — October 17, 2010 @ 8:17 am
dada

Comment by jessa malihan — October 21, 2010 @ 12:45 am
I had facicons installed but 50% of the time windows would block it's use with the notice that it is a spam site…and they advertise no spam…GET REAL FACICONS because you are a spam site.

Comment by ondn1 chief — October 30, 2010 @ 6:18 pm
Did you ever figure it out? I am trying to delete it as well

Comment by Claire — November 2, 2010 @ 11:50 pm
I did, but it does not show that it is downloaded. My friends are getting anoyed with the message, and so am I

Comment by Claire — November 2, 2010 @ 11:56 pm
or
In the top right corner of chrome click the spanner icon, Then go to tools and open the little side menu thing (the arrow) Then scroll down that menu to extensions. And next to where it says facicons click uninstall and its gone.. To work that out I used 3 different sites and worked em all together. Hope this helps cause I sure was pissed off before I worked this out.. lol.

Comment by claire — November 2, 2010 @ 11:59 pm
is like this … This happened to me:
Just installed it, and I want to delete, but I can not and does not have this program in the comp, I know you need to Google Crome minimaz, extases and unistall, but for me there, because it can help, please?

Comment by Stefan — September 12, 2011 @ 3:15 pm

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

i've added facicons but i want to know how to disable it?/ my facebook is freasing.. is this link is tne reason

Comment by Maro Bayloun Darwich — September 4, 2010 @ 3:08 pm

FB, the best website for spam. I LOVE spam!!!!!

1st rule of thumb, 3rd party apps blow chunks. They're garbage, don't install them. FB blew it letting unverified people do this stuff. The idiots should have stuck to proprietary apps so EVERY damn body has the SAME one. These dumbass things are worthless when there are 1000s out there. You and your friend have to be using the SAME one in order for it to work.

Comment by Guest — September 4, 2010 @ 3:32 pm

Hey,

Maro, it is easy to install, If chrome, go to extensions, if firefox, go to addons, if explorer go to add remove.

BTW Nick, i think you got it wrong, when the other party doesn't have "facicons" installed, he/she will see this message prompting…Just like "Facemoods" and "Social Plus".

It is also stated in their "FAQ"

"Since smileys are not available as part of the Facebook application for the comment or status fields, your friends must have Facicons installed in order to enjoy them. Therefore, when you send a smiley to a friend that doesn’t have Facicons , your friend will receive a link to Facicons with an explanation regarding what he needs to do in order to view the smileys you sent."

Comment by Tomas — September 4, 2010 @ 3:46 pm

Thank you for this info. I didn’t add it because it didn’t seem legit and it seemed like a lot of people were getting but because I was unsure I thought that being cautious was the way to go.

Comment by Beth — September 4, 2010 @ 9:02 pm

It could be that a lack of understanding as to the nature of Facicons has prompted you to post this alert.

Facicons is an appliacation which enables users to post emoticons right in the their facebook status and comments – a feature which is not available via facebook (and only very partially available via the Facebook API).

In our FAQ page at http://www.facicons.com/faq.html we clearly state that:

This is the way other services such as Facemoods (which you reccomended in your post http://www.allfacebook.com/facebook-emoticons-app... notifies users of its services.

Further more, other application that provide simillar services such as bandoo, practice the same method of notification.

Nothing has changed in our application since you wrote about us in your original post in July and we have been as up-front and transparent regarding the way our application works in our FAQ and our TOS. We do not attempt to trick or mislead our users in any way.

You may have been alerted regarding Facicons because our application is being used by many people.

In light of this, calling Facicons spam is unfairly deamonising and harmfull to us.

On this basis, I would appreciate a clarifying post regarding Facicons in order to prevent further damage to our name.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding Facicons.

I am also open to a phone call regarding this.

Comment by Danny — September 5, 2010 @ 1:17 pm

I have only noticed that link attached with facicons on facebook pages that have helped me know how to add them. I do not see that link anymore and every virus scan I have rund does not show this as a virus or any type of spam. This site is the only one so far listed saying this could be a problem. I would like to know what problem will be caused by clicking on the link and downloading the application. I will remove the application if I can see a problem other than the link that is attached.

Comment by Ray Fitch — September 6, 2010 @ 7:35 am

I recently downloaded through firefox this facicons and I want

to delete it because it is causing my script from working so I really can't use facebook. I went to my control panel to the add/remove and it does not show that I even have it

Please Please can someone tell me what to do I want it gone

as fast as I can get it gone Thank you please respond.soon

Comment by renie_snow@yahoo.com — September 6, 2010 @ 10:46 am

Hi Renie,

Don't know why you can't find them on your Control Panel, but either way, go to Tools, addons and remove it from there, from my experience tough this is not suppose to cause any script problems on your PC.

Hope thit helps.

Comment by Ron — September 6, 2010 @ 9:40 pm

i wanna get rid of themv but i cant :'( :@

Comment by Hayley — September 9, 2010 @ 4:29 pm

Is there a WAY you can get rid of them? It was really cool the first few days. And now it takes up my whole profile.. I don't want em know more. Can anyone help me.. PLEASE!?!?

Comment by HaleyAkaLilMuffin — September 10, 2010 @ 12:55 am

How to disable facicons???? I don't like it.

Comment by irritated01 — September 10, 2010 @ 4:24 am

"If chrome, go to extensions, if firefox, go to addons, if explorer go to add remove."—it helps!

Comment by kasjauis — September 10, 2010 @ 4:27 am

ggggrrrr i cant get ride of it, it's not letting me post stuff on my friends wall with it

Comment by louise — September 15, 2010 @ 8:34 am

where do u find extensions? omg its annoying

Comment by guest — September 15, 2010 @ 8:53 am

how the hell u get rid of it i cant post L.O.L or faces

Comment by katie — September 15, 2010 @ 10:38 am

How do I uninstall Facicons?

For Internet Explorer Users – Simply go the start menu/control panel, click on add/remove program and remove Facicons.
For FireFox users – Go to the FireFox menu, click on tools/Add-ons, and remove Facicons.
For Google Chrome users – Go to the customize menu, click Extensions and click Uninstall next to the Facicons item.

Source: Facicon

Comment by sarahwanderlust — September 17, 2010 @ 10:54 am

whre is the customize menu i cant find it! grr

Comment by kaaaattt — September 17, 2010 @ 1:46 pm

well i just think it is plum stupid…on the Facicions part..you download them..and then when you don't want them you cant get rid of them…i have tried everything..nothing works so not what???????

Comment by donna parker — September 17, 2010 @ 11:31 pm

I can't get rid of them and I really hate them and I didn't even download it .. it was my little sister and now I really need to kill her and I also tried to remove it from control panel and its still there .. can canyone tell me what to do ?

Comment by rana — September 18, 2010 @ 8:45 pm

They're sooooo annoying, i hate them!!!! AND I CAN'T GET RID OF THEM :'(((((((( annoying little crap :@

Comment by Tamara — September 20, 2010 @ 6:49 am

I am also have the same problem i cant find it to remove it i looked every were plz HELP

Comment by Trace — September 21, 2010 @ 5:28 am

In the top right corner of chrome click the spanner icon, Then go to tools and open the little side menu thing (the arrow) Then scroll down that menu to extensions. And next to where it says facicons click uninstall and its gone.. To work that out I used 3 different sites and worked em all together. Hope this helps cause I sure was pissed off before I worked this out.. lol.

Hope you can understand it.

Comment by Ghost — September 22, 2010 @ 4:54 am

No matter how "open" and "up-front" your "application" is, it still adds unnecessery spam and annoyance to those facebook users who do not wish to install any extra crap to their browsers and if other apps are doing the same thing, it doesn't change a single thing: In every comment, there's extra 4 lines of text with your url.

Comment by @rasjani — September 23, 2010 @ 1:56 pm

Dear Danny,
I LOVE this app.. And wish to have it in my FB as long as it doesn't give me any trouble. Only once, whenever i put in a simple icon like , a warning of my comment can't be posted due to it being blocked was written. But its good now.. so i'm sticking to it. Hope there will be no problem again. TQ!

Comment by Tink — September 23, 2010 @ 10:44 pm

How do I get rid of it I installed it then unitstalled it after like 5 minutes I saw this annd I just want it to completly go is there a way ?

Comment by emily — September 25, 2010 @ 11:59 am

i don't know how to go to extensions.
i know you go to customized links………but from there nothing says extentions? more help???

Comment by Anonymous — October 4, 2010 @ 10:00 pm

Thank you Ghost..it worked..my god I panicked for a mo..so helpful..thank you once again my friend

Comment by Pauline Minors — October 5, 2010 @ 6:22 am

Done it..thank you for your help!!

Comment by Pauline Minors — October 5, 2010 @ 7:15 am

i can't find facicons in the Google chrome customize menu extension .. (((( what will i do .. i want to get rid of it .. ihate it much T_T

Comment by Aizel Sacatrapuz — October 5, 2010 @ 8:21 am

FINALLY! i removed it ! thanks to this website .. Godbless you

Comment by Aizel — October 5, 2010 @ 8:25 am

If u have CCleaner, u can uninstall it from there..

Comment by Marianne — October 6, 2010 @ 6:31 am

facebook just prompted me to remove facicons, its shite anyway. gladly removed it! thanx for removal tips, had been searching my applications for it, now its gone

Comment by sarah — October 6, 2010 @ 11:30 pm

hey…i cant get rid og facicons and it is anoying now so plz can you help me :L

Comment by gabrielle — October 17, 2010 @ 8:17 am

dada

Comment by jessa malihan — October 21, 2010 @ 12:45 am

I had facicons installed but 50% of the time windows would block it's use with the notice that it is a spam site…and they advertise no spam…GET REAL FACICONS because you are a spam site.

Comment by ondn1 chief — October 30, 2010 @ 6:18 pm

Did you ever figure it out? I am trying to delete it as well

Comment by Claire — November 2, 2010 @ 11:50 pm

I did, but it does not show that it is downloaded. My friends are getting anoyed with the message, and so am I

Comment by Claire — November 2, 2010 @ 11:56 pm

or
In the top right corner of chrome click the spanner icon, Then go to tools and open the little side menu thing (the arrow) Then scroll down that menu to extensions. And next to where it says facicons click uninstall and its gone.. To work that out I used 3 different sites and worked em all together. Hope this helps cause I sure was pissed off before I worked this out.. lol.

Comment by claire — November 2, 2010 @ 11:59 pm

is like this … This happened to me:
Just installed it, and I want to delete, but I can not and does not have this program in the comp, I know you need to Google Crome minimaz, extases and unistall, but for me there, because it can help, please?

Comment by Stefan — September 12, 2011 @ 3:15 pm

Welcome New Reader!

ALERT: Facicons Is Spreading Facebook Emoticon Spam

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Inside Social Apps 2012 is Less Than Two Weeks Away

1845539 Comments2010-09-04+17%3A48%3A16Nick+O%27Neill »

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Welcome New Reader!

ALERT: Facicons Is Spreading Facebook Emoticon Spam

Recommended Articles

Inside Social Apps 2012 is Less Than Two Weeks Away

1845539 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.allfacebook.com%2Ffacebook-emoticon-spam-2010-09ALERT%3A+Facicons+Is+Spreading+Facebook+Emoticon+Spam2010-09-04+17%3A48%3A16Nick+O%27Neillhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.allfacebook.com%2F%3Fp%3D18455 »

Leave a comment

Follow AllFacebook

Send us a Tip

Social Media Jobs

Let your next job find you!

Featured Company

Jobs of the Day

Digital Strategist

Digital/Social Media Manager - Entertainment

Social Media Coordinator

See all jobs

Upcoming Events

1845539 Comments2010-09-04+17%3A48%3A16Nick+O%27Neill »