How privacy vanishes online

Hi there,

here is again an example how 'easy' it is to collect private information from social network sites like facebook or twitter.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/technology/17privacy.html?hp

true north

 

If people haven't figured out by now that these social websites do the same thing to thieves and predators that flowers do to bees, then I don't know what else can be done. Just in the last two days it has been learned that the FBI is using Facebook for investigations and Myspace is now selling blog posts, photos, status updates and more to 3rd parties.

The whole point of these websites is to collect and share information, which is exactly what you DON'T want to do on the internet now. You know, I get a little tired of everyone always blaming the social networks for the problems associated with them also. Yes, they share and sell your information, yes, that sucks.

But do you know what? They can't sell and share information that you don't plaster all over your Facebook or Myspace page thinking you're a part of the "hip" crowd and thinking its cool to tell everybody where you are, where you're going and all this stuff. Every piece of information you share with anyone is gathered up and built into a complete profile of you, for the use of your best buddy, a large corporation you've never even heard of, some nutcase or a guy or gal deciding they'd like to be you for a while and live off your dime.

 

'Facebook beats Google for visitors'



People have no life, wasting time on Facebook and endangering their privacy....

 

There's something to be said for maintaining the appearance of a very public and unremarkable life, no matter what you're actually up to.

 

Here is something really serious on which we should think. I never felt anything wrong with social networking sites like facebook or myspace. It is said above that they are stealing user's information and anyone can get anyone's personal details. I wanted to ask everyone here that if you are really concern about your personal details then why you are posting them on the websites which you know are open for everyone. If anyone is really concerned about his privacy then he should not use these sites or should fill in only required data not the whole biography. By this way, he can save himself.