The latest Facebook scam makes use of users' desire for a \The latest Facebook scam makes use of users' desire for a "dislike" button. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Security firm Sophos is warning of a scam on Facebook that seeks to trick people into revealing their information in exchange for installing a "dislike" button.

The scam encourages users of the social networking site to install a "dislike" button, which in theory could be used to disapprove of friends' posts and status updates, by granting the application access to their profile.

When installed, though, the rogue application automatically updates the user's profile with a link and a message that says, "I just got the dislike button, so now I can dislike all of your dumb posts lol!!!"

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Whoever is behind the application can then send out messages from the user's account, Sophos said.

Agreeing to install the application also requires the user to fill out a survey that makes money for online scammers before ultimately pointing to an add-on for web browser Firefox developed by a legitimate company called FaceMod, Sophos security expert Graham Cluley wrote in his blog Monday.

"As far as we can tell, FaceMod aren't connected with the scam — their browser add-on is simply being used as bait," he wrote.

The scam plays on many Facebook users' desire for a "dislike" button, which would run counter to the website's existing "like" button, which can be clicked to indicate approval of a posting.

Sophos said the trickery is similar to other recent viral scams that have circulated on the social network, including one that tried to get users to click on a link that read, "Justin Bieber trying to flirt," or another one that promised a video of an anaconda vomiting up a hippo.

A spokesperson for Facebook said the company was working on blocking and removing the malicious application. The company advises users not to "click on strange links, even if they are from friends, and notify the person and report the link if you see something suspicious," the spokesperson said.

Security experts say the social networking site, which recently passed 500 million members, is a prime target for scammers because of its large user base.