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.
Social media giant Facebook, like its counterparts, is fraught with a multitude of security issues. The information shared on Facebook can be spied on and exploited in many ways.
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.
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 spy are 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.
Very often, phishing is done by sharing links with captions like “You have to see this!” These links often lead to a fake Facebook page asking for login details. Reentering personal information thereby gives access the hacker access to the account. Once the account has been hacked, the same link can be passed on to others. Coming from a friend, people are more likely to open it.
Also, Facebook has been alleged for sharing personal information with marketers. Though it denies such allegations, its teaming up with the four largest data brokers does not expel fears. Then there are the “technical glitches.” A Facebook bug was recently highlighted by a man who hacked into its CEO’s own account. In 2012, Facebook itself admitted to a year-long data breach of 6 million users.
It is unwise to accept friend requests from unfamiliar people or add recommended people blindly. It does not only give them access to your personal information, but inadvertently to your friends’ as well. Spammers have found ways to manipulate the recommendation system and use it to their advantage. They could sign up for popular Facebook apps that you have been using. This would make their profiles show up in recommendations. In 2012, Facebook revealed that more than 83 million Facebook accounts were fake.
Then there are fake applications all over Facebook. Apps like “Find out who views your profile” are not real. These are just phishing scams. Even if the apps aren’t fake, they access your profile information and put the information at risk. Facebook quizzes are not created by Facebook. They are created by facebook users. When running them, you are giving anonymous programmers permission to access and use your account information.
Social networking has penetrated deep into our lives. The new digital age has raised many concerns about the issues of privacy and security. A digital footprint is nearly impossible to erase. The cliché, Prevention is better than cure, could not be more apt. It is essential to exercise great discretion while sharing personal information on Facebook or any other social networking site. Nothing over social media is absolutely “personal” or “private.”
Social media giant Facebook, like its counterparts, is fraught with a multitude of security issues. The information shared on Facebook can be spied on and exploited in many ways.
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 spy are 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.
Very often, phishing is done by sharing links with captions like “You have to see this!” These links often lead to a fake Facebook page asking for login details. Reentering personal information thereby gives access the hacker access to the account. Once the account has been hacked, the same link can be passed on to others. Coming from a friend, people are more likely to open it.
Also, Facebook has been alleged for sharing personal information with marketers. Though it denies such allegations, its teaming up with the four largest data brokers does not expel fears. Then there are the “technical glitches.” A Facebook bug was recently highlighted by a man who hacked into its CEO’s own account. In 2012, Facebook itself admitted to a year-long data breach of 6 million users.
The need to be scrupulous
It is important to be careful about is shared and whom it is shared with. Giving out personal information on Facebook such as “Going out for dinner” can provide opportunity to a burglar to break into somebody’s house.It is unwise to accept friend requests from unfamiliar people or add recommended people blindly. It does not only give them access to your personal information, but inadvertently to your friends’ as well. Spammers have found ways to manipulate the recommendation system and use it to their advantage. They could sign up for popular Facebook apps that you have been using. This would make their profiles show up in recommendations. In 2012, Facebook revealed that more than 83 million Facebook accounts were fake.
Then there are fake applications all over Facebook. Apps like “Find out who views your profile” are not real. These are just phishing scams. Even if the apps aren’t fake, they access your profile information and put the information at risk. Facebook quizzes are not created by Facebook. They are created by facebook users. When running them, you are giving anonymous programmers permission to access and use your account information.
Social networking has penetrated deep into our lives. The new digital age has raised many concerns about the issues of privacy and security. A digital footprint is nearly impossible to erase. The cliché, Prevention is better than cure, could not be more apt. It is essential to exercise great discretion while sharing personal information on Facebook or any other social networking site. Nothing over social media is absolutely “personal” or “private.”
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