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Aug 192010
 

I’ve had people commenting (complaining) on one of my privacy blogs, that their mobile number is available to view on FaceBook even when they deliberately withheld their number from their Profile.

Well, it’s the “FaceBook App” – if you download the app so that you can view and update your facebook page via your mobile, then your mobile number is automatically extracted & displayed.

For those who wish to use their mobile to check / update FaceBook…
If you have internet access on your mobile go directly to their mobile site at touch.facebook.com (type it in your browser address bar).
This way you don’t have to download the “facebook app” it’s the app that gives them access to your phone numbers (and those of your friends in the contact list / phonebook if you inadvertantly allow it).
 Posted by at 1:17 pm
May 262010
 

Did You Know – clever websites can identify you by the different groups you belong to on Social Networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Bebo etc.

How can they do that?  – mathematics.
Each Group on a social networking site has it’s own URL internet address, If you belong to several groups on social networking sites, the addresses of these groups that you have visited are held by your web browser, the prying website’s code contains a hidden list of group addresses, when you visit this site any addresses held by your browser that match a group address in the hidden list are flagged up to the prying website plus your computer’s IP address.
So “they” now know which groups you belong to on the various social networks.
The username of each member of each group on social sites are public, software creates a subset database of all members of each group that you belong to, the mathematics of data mining then extracts your usernames as the best probability of a “match” (you could be the only person who belongs to all of “your” groups, the more groups you belong to the more accuratley “they” can identify you).  

Is it legal?   Yes
Yes, they extract your identity using information that you inadvertently give them. Because their technique makes use of your web browser’s features not it’s vulnerabilities, no Trojans, Worms or Viruses are used – it is not illegal, just morally wrong?  (because they don’t use nasties such as trojans / worms / viruses you are not protected by your firewall or anti-virus package)

Can I protect myself?    Yes.
Yes you can protect your identity from these prying websites, it is easy but  inconvenient. Regularly use a program such as EZsystemcleaner or EvidenceBlaster to safely remove your surfing habits, this will protect you from this “Identity Leak” .  Although your bookmarks / favourites will be intact, the inconvenience is that your browser will have forgoten all the websites that you regularly visit and have set to remember you or remain logged in.
Having to login at each new visit is not a big price to pay for your online safety though and it may not be for long, as eventually the browsers will no doubt be upgraded to block this new Identity Leak.

Dec 152009
 

…so you’re worried that “they” may track your website visits, read your emails and link this info to your actual address ?

Well you can do something about it.

               Hide Yourself –

               Use a Search Engine that keeps no records –

               Use a Pre-Paid card to pay for purchases –

               Have a “Spare” secret email address never used on your PC –

               Regularly use “Disc Cleaner” software & “Wipe Info” –

 Over the next few weeks exact details will be published on the above

 more to follow… 

Nov 272009
 

Many countries have National Laws that requires a company that operates on the web and harvests personal information, to publish on their web site a “Privacy Policy” telling  users what information is being collected about them and what may happen to their information.

Because the Internet has no national borders and is truly international in nature most financially large website operators comply with even the most draconian rules for fear of expensive court action. (e.g. California’s online privacy protection law claims world wide jurisdiction because a Californian resident could use any website or online service anywhere in the world.)

FaceBook has an online Privacy Policy but in common with most other large websites and online services tells you that it may be amended at any time.      (Amending the terms of a privacy policy may have the effect of releasing some of your data that you previously thought was safe)      Because of the various laws & rules, they have to tell you if the privacy policy is changing, FaceBook do this on an obscure page called “FaceBook Site Governance” the best way to protect yourself is to visit this page and click on the button to “become a fan” once you are a fan of “Site Governance” you will be informed if the privacy policy is going to change.