Another ugly reminder to check your Facebook settings — NOW!

[n2doc]

by Helen A.S. Popkin

You know that guy who just posted the personal details of 100 million Facebook profiles in an online downloadable file? He ain't Matthew Broderick in "War Games," Keanu Reeves as "Neo" or "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."

Sure, the dude wrote some code to access and aggregate user information through Facebook's directory , but he isn't a "cracker." He didn't even need to be a "hacker" to do it. Ron Bowes is just a security researcher who used a tool to quickly access all the profile info made readily available by Facebook users who — by either choice or chance — didn't lock it down.

If we take any lesson from this latest Facebook privacy brouhaha, it's one we should have already learned: Facebook isn't for people who don't wish to be known. Because here's the deal: Facebook has not now, nor will it ever, protect your information for you.

The thing to remember is that on Facebook, your wishes (or privacy settings, whatever) are by default, indexed for search engines. That's how Bowes was able to access and aggregate the 2.80 gigabyte file he uploaded to file-sharing website Pirate Bay. As in the Facebook statement, the information on this file "already exists in Google, Bing, other search engines, as well as on Facebook."

If users haven't properly understood and changed the default settings, information is available to be collected and aggregated by a security researcher like Bowes, or any unsavory character that may have already done the same and didn't bother mentioning it to the press.

more

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38474945/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

[bemildred]

1. Lie. Let them "harvest" fake bullshit. nt

[Cant trust em]

2. Is there any danger of accessing my social security number or bank accounts through facebook?

It seems like a lot of the furor over their lack of privacy is mainly based on marketing to corporations. Honestly, if they see that I'm into indie-pop bands and liberal politics, then I'm not too worried about it.

[leftofcool]

3. Not unless you have that info on facebook

This is a lot of brou ha ha over absolutely nothing. It is all public info that any company could have gleaned from Google.

[Cant trust em]

5. Here's what's currently being magically marketed to me in the right column on facebook.

A new show on NPR, hamburgers, and a dance party in San Francisco.

Be afraid.

[leftofcool]

7. LOL

[Greyhound]

4. Or how about quit being stupid with your data? The computer and the networks that connect them

are the most powerful tools ever devised, and we act like they are a toaster.

Would you buy a .50 cal machine gun and drop it your kids room with an admonishment to "be careful"? If you have no idea how a computer works, why would you record your entire life into it without taking steps to limit access to it? When you know that every transaction you make into of out of your retirement fund, checking account, bills, SSN, etc., is sent out of the country to a company with absolutely no accountability nor allegiance to you or America, why would you do it?

Hey I'm a very trustworthy guy, everybody please send me your name, address, SSN, and home phone #. I promise I'll make your life much easier and I'll split any profits I generate with you.
:sarcasm:

[obxhead]

6. Anyone who posts anything they don't want the general public to

know on FB is clearly an idiot and asking for it. I like to find them myself as I have 3 bridges for sale at bargain of the decade prices.

[qb]

8. Theres a stupid app on Facebook that says you can find out what people know about you

on the internet. However, in order to use it, you have to give permission to access your personal data.

[Warren DeMontague]

9. I heard about these things with millions of peoples' NAMES, PHONE #s, and sometimes ADDRESSES!!!!

It's all in an easily accessed BOOK!

Delivered to Millions of people!

At Their FRONT DOOR!





AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!