Ever heard of the Facebook AV Marketplace? No? Well, it is essentially an app store or sorts which deals only in antivirus software for all Facebook users. Here, Facebook users can download free antivirus software from a host of household names such as Norton, Kaspersky, McAfee and many others.

Because these are free downloads, some paid software (such as Norton’s AntiVirus and Kaspersky’s Security for Mac) offer only trial versions or a limited subscription. In addition, the AV Marketplace also offer antivirus software downloads for PC, Mac and also Android devices (of which there are currently only two, but both – McAfee Mobile Security and Norton Mobile Security Lite for Android – are free).

Today, Facebook reached an agreement with seven new antivirus companies to offer their products on the AV Marketplace. In addition, these companies will work with Facebook’s security team – together with its current antivirus partners – to improve Facebook’s URL blacklist system, which scans “trillions of clicks” each day to ensure the URL links posted on Facebook which users are about to enter are safe.

Also, the security partners will work closely with Facebook’s Security team to develop new tools in the future.

(Source: Gizmodo, Facebook Security)