FACEBOOK SECURITY ISSUES
- According to a new research from Vienna University, Facebook has lost a total of 11 million users in the United States and Britain. 48.3% of these users have quit Facebook over privacy concerns.
- Users might change their Privacy settings on facebook to “Friends Only” and feel secure about shared information. The most prudent would set it to “Only Me”. However, there is no Only Me on Facebook. Information is shared with “Facebook” at least and as it turned out recently, probably the CIA.
EXPLOITATION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
- Information shared on Facebook is accessible to government, criminals, hackers and advertisers. According to a recent report by Pew Research Centre, 21% of internet users have had their email or social networking account compromised or taken over without permission. 11% have had important personal information stolen such as their Social Security Number, credit card, or bank account information.
Criminals are actively sifting through the cyber space to use someone’s personal information for illegal activities. Anybody sharing information on Facebook is vulnerable to identity theft... - However, it isn’t just criminals and hackers who could be spying on Facebook communications or misusing information. The recent revelations about the US PRISM surveillance program have raised a huge outcry over privacy issues. It was revealed that the government has direct access to Facebook servers. Everything shared or communicated over Facebook is being tracked. The government claims to do it to stop terrorism. However, is it acceptable to monitor or use citizens’ private information without their consent?
A report earlier this year exposed the identity theft of dead children by Britain’s largest police force for infiltrating protest groups. Hence, it isn’t just the malicious hackers and criminals you need to be worried about. - Spammers, hackers and even marketers can hijack Facebook accounts. Software such as Facebook profile spyare used to trick users into giving away access to their account. A lay man cannot mostly detect such spyware, which are a big security threat.
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