[infoshare] AVG Blogs | On Social Media, Six steps to securing your Facebook applications
- From: "Luis Guerra" <free_speech@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "InfoShare" <InfoShare@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2010 05:21:16 -0500
Six steps to securing your Facebook applications
It is no shock that Facebook is in the news again but this time it looks
like it's the advertisers and third-party applications that are taking the
heat
for their alleged abuse of privacy.
The NY Times recently reported two studies that did a little investigating
into Facebook's advertising platform and uncovered a pretty major loop-hole
in
the system. This "gray area" allows a marketer to access very personalized
information about users without their permission or acknowledgement. Read
more
on how they work
here.
While we expect Facebook ads to be targeted, it's the idea that these new
ads can be designed to purposefully collect private information, such as
sexual
preference, religion, age and location that should have users worried. Even
third-party applications,
those you specifically approved, have been caught tracking information,
including names and websites visited, and then selling it. Once your
information
is passed on to third-parties there is no way of knowing what is being done
with it.
As is the case with all popular social networking sites; especially those
with over 500 million users, there will always be vulnerabilities. Take the
time
to understand the risks and how they may affect you to better screen
third-party applications before they can access your information.
Follow the steps below to see which Facebook applications you're currently
running. You might be surprised.
1. Login to your Facebook profile.
2. Navigate to the Account Tab and the drop down menu.
3. Next, click on the hyperlink Edit Your Settings in the Applications You
Use tab.
4. Now in the Applications You Use row click on the Edit Settings box.
5. Here you can view the applications that have access to your data. If you
see an application you do not trust, click the Edit Settings tab associated
with that application for more detail.
6. Each individual application's Edit Settings tab will lead you to this
screen. If you are uncomfortable sharing the information listed, click
Remove Application.
http://bit.ly/a8W9IA
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- » [infoshare] AVG Blogs | On Social Media, Six steps to securing your Facebook applications - Luis Guerra
