Facebook privacy tool "Disconnect"

A Google Chrome extension is a slap in the face for Facebook.
By Eric Doyle, 22 Oct 2010 at 14:44



As a lover of Facebook but a supporter of privacy, developer Brian Kennish has devised a Facebook application claiming to block information to and from third-party advertisers.

Kennish, a developer at Google, decided to develop a program to counter Facebook Connect’s ability to follow users as they browse registered sites on the web. It also suppresses the “Connect via Facebook” sidebar.

As a member of the Chrome team, his application is an extension for the Google browser. He therefore felt it necessary to make it clear on his download site that he developed the utility as a private individual and that it had nothing to do with any Google initiative.

He had been keeping his head down since he launched Disconnect. “Thanks, but I wouldn’t be a very good interview right now. Here’s an algorithm to simulate: No comment,” was his only response on Twitter.

On his blog he elaborated: “I’ll have more to say about the making of and response to the Facebook Disconnect extension later.”

Kennish claimed Facebook Connect had a history of leaking personally identifiable information and Facebook Disconnect blocked this traffic from the third-party sites to Facebook servers.

Read more: Unofficial privacy tool ‘Facebook Disconnect’ launched | IT PRO

Anyone who trusts a company like Facebook with their private data is just asking for trouble :/

Not only has Facebook been caught selling data on, its privacy tools have been repeatedly shown to be 'window-dressing' with no real protection offered.

Bill2 said:

A Google Chrome extension is a slap in the face for Facebook.
By Eric Doyle, 22 Oct 2010 at 14:44



As a lover of Facebook but a supporter of privacy, developer Brian Kennish has devised a Facebook application claiming to block information to and from third-party advertisers.

Kennish, a developer at Google, decided to develop a program to counter Facebook Connect’s ability to follow users as they browse registered sites on the web. It also suppresses the “Connect via Facebook” sidebar.

As a member of the Chrome team, his application is an extension for the Google browser. He therefore felt it necessary to make it clear on his download site that he developed the utility as a private individual and that it had nothing to do with any Google initiative.

He had been keeping his head down since he launched Disconnect. “Thanks, but I wouldn’t be a very good interview right now. Here’s an algorithm to simulate: No comment,” was his only response on Twitter.

On his blog he elaborated: “I’ll have more to say about the making of and response to the Facebook Disconnect extension later.”

Kennish claimed Facebook Connect had a history of leaking personally identifiable information and Facebook Disconnect blocked this traffic from the third-party sites to Facebook servers.

Read more: Unofficial privacy tool ‘Facebook Disconnect’ launched | IT PRO