More Facebook Privacy Issues

marsmimar · 18 Oct 2010

Oct 18, 2010
Many of the most popular applications, or "apps," on the social-networking site Facebook Inc. have been transmitting identifying information—in effect, providing access to people's names and, in some cases, their friends' names—to dozens of advertising and Internet tracking companies, a Wall Street Journal investigation has found.

The issue affects tens of millions of Facebook app users, including people who set their profiles to Facebook's strictest privacy settings. The practice breaks Facebook's rules, and renews questions about its ability to keep identifiable information about its users' activities secure.

Source:
Facebook in Online Privacy Breach; Applications Transmitting Identifying Information - WSJ.com

s31 · 18 Oct 2010

so should we remove those apps?

linnemeyerhere · 18 Oct 2010

Does this really come as any surprise. Any application which asks for permission to grab you personal info and friends list is not to be used. It's just common sense....Farmville .....get a life !

Gornot · 19 Oct 2010

I know I will kinda stray off-topic here, but it is sad that kids these days live their life on Facebook (I have witnessed this more than I ever wanted to). I do agree that it's a great way to stay in touch with friends who you can't exactly call over for a cup of coffee or go out to lunch (my friends in West Virginia and other US countries aren't exactly next door xD) but seriously, if it weren't for them, I would've stopped using that crappy website long ago...

I remember opening a Facebook account and not exactly being thrilled about it... It lingered empty and inactive for about a year before I actually started using it, because it was easier to share YouTube links and news articles to Facebook than sending a couple dozen emails every day.
So now I regret each and every time that I log into Facebook, because I waste at least an hour before I finish reading stuff that people send me; also, as a result, my email address has never been more quiet :/

The whole thing simply grew out of control.

mckillwashere · 19 Oct 2010

Facebook and myspace took social engineering to a whole new level... You can read EVERYTHING a person does and if they have foursquare the majority of were they go... Its more than enough the be able to fake common interests and act like you know what they are talking about with google.... over the past week I have removed over 200 people from my friends and its growing everyday.... Granted I never post any real information on there :P

linnemeyerhere · 19 Oct 2010

Don't get me wrong I like fb and it has a lot of great qualities and in fact the ability to reconnect with long lost friends has been most powerful but with all forms of information exchange common sense must be used. I agree that it can soak up a good amount of time but playing on the computer is the same. When we look back ....way back on all these electronic devices they were all touted as being ways to be more productive and gives us back needed time. What I find funny is with all the smart phones, PDA's, Ipads, laptop, desktops and such I'm as stressed for time today than ever before. In the end it's how you choose to use things in our life and I for one feel it's far better to speak to someone face to face and have a chat as they say then any text message, email or tweet will ever convey. We must not lose the art of good conversation which I think is being exactly that..LOST !