If you value privacy on Social media?

[classical_hero]

Then I have the app for you on Firefox.

http://priv3.icsi.berkeley.edu/

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I sent this to my friend who's a little paranoid about web-bugs. Thanks.

It's not much use to me though I don't use social networks.

 

[IglooDame]

I'm debating whether to actually sign up for Facebook, with properly adjusted "Real Name" and personal details. However, instead of running anything beyond what I normally do for web browsers (which is noscript and ad-aware), I think I'll create a Facebook-only VMware virtual operating system.

 

[Zelig]

I run a Facebook-only browser install.

 

[IglooDame]

I run a Facebook-only browser install.

A separate executable inside the same (Windows, I assume) OS?

 

[illram]

It is possible to remain somewhat private on facebook. You do have to occasionally monitor your privacy settings (as every time Facebook changes something, they seemingly opt you into whatever the changes are) and if you don't want people stalking you, untag yourself on photos. I also never participate in any games or quizzes or any of that as I read a while ago that these programs share your information (as well as your friends information). The Home feed is heavily culled of people I do not care about, or who only post silly mundane stuff. (Or spoilers from shows, my god I hate that.)

I'm not on facebook very often so others probably have more hints than me.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Or better yet, don't use Facebook

 

[Abaddon]

I don't care if Facebook knows the websites I go on.. I don't have anything to hide.

 

[Elephantium]

I don't have anything to hide, either, but that doesn't make it okay to constantly spy on me.

 

[Abaddon]

So are you going to buy everything in life with cash, never use a mobile phone, never walk the streets in case there are cameras? To assume your life isn't constantly monitored seems foolish to me.

 

[classical_hero]

I don't want a private corporation to have access to private info without my consent. I know that using a credit card means that the company will know what I am buying, but that is something i am okay with, and so is there nothing wrong with the government from putting cameras in public places for our protection.

 

[Mise]

I make good use out of facebook, I'm not paying for it, and by letting them know what other websites I go on, I can get more adverts for products that I might actually be interested in.

I can understand why some people would be upset by tracking cookies from unsavoury websites that want to sell your personal information for no benefit to you, but for websites that I use (and am exposed to adverts on) all day, every day, like Facebook, Google or CFC, I actually want them to know as much about me as possible, so that they can show me all the cool things I can buy, places I can go to, events I can attend and cool stuff that I can experience.


EDIT: That being said, I should say that I like that this product exists. We should always have the option to opt out if we want.

 

[Boundless]

If you're that worried about privacy, you should probably concern yourself with this:

The average citizen in the UK is caught on CCTV cameras 300 times a day.

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2071496.stm

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

My problem with Facebook is not the privacy thing (though that makes me leery) but the fact that they're infilterating everywhere and ruining the internet. I fear a day where you'll be required to have a FB account to do anything.

 

[Elephantium]

So are you going to buy everything in life with cash, never use a mobile phone, never walk the streets in case there are cameras? To assume your life isn't constantly monitored seems foolish to me.

I don't assume that. As you said, it would be foolish to assume that nefarious types aren't constantly spying on me.

As I said, it's wrong to constantly spy on me. The fact that it's impossible to live a modern life without being wronged in this way doesn't excuse the wrong.

To put it more strongly: An evil that I'm powerless to change doesn't somehow become good because I'm powerless to change it.

 

[GoodGame]

I'm debating whether to actually sign up for Facebook, with properly adjusted "Real Name" and personal details. However, instead of running anything beyond what I normally do for web browsers (which is noscript and ad-aware), I think I'll create a Facebook-only VMware virtual operating system.

I noticed a fair number of people sign up for facebook with a modifed "real name" placing some kind of silly title into their name, like "Princess, Luscious, etc..." I just used a truncated form of my name that isn't immediately obvious, and ID myself to my old buddies by tagging myself in a photo and playing 20 questions in chat. Just to avoid overt possible conflicts with my "professional name".


I stick with Firefox for social networking (set to not save cookies after session), and I just run CCLeaner religiously (it's in my start-up routine for example, and I think you can batch it to shutting down you r computer too) to be sure no cookies remain. And my ISP already states they log everything that I do for potential crime reporting, so I don't really care that Facebook draws conclusions about me from random surfing on a page with a facebook icon. The whole point of it is sharing, not leeching. If you want a secret club, start one on Yahoo or Google or somewhere.

 

[innonimatu]

I'm debating whether to actually sign up for Facebook, with properly adjusted "Real Name" and personal details. However, instead of running anything beyond what I normally do for web browsers (which is noscript and ad-aware), I think I'll create a Facebook-only VMware virtual operating system.

Real paranoids do that... and use a VM with a different connection and IP address.

Ok, that might be overdoing it...

 

[Abaddon]

I don't want a private corporation to have access to private info without my consent. I know that using a credit card means that the company will know what I am buying, but that is something i am okay with, and so is there nothing wrong with the government from putting cameras in public places for our protection.

How is it anymore consenting that you know FB does it as Visa does it? It's not like Facebook hides the fact.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Because the entire point to Facebook is to sell that information?

 

[Abaddon]

An the entire point of google is to sell advertising?