December 21, 2009

Some Facebook Security

Filed under: Main — Dan Gookin @ 12:01 am

If you’re like me, you probably use Facebook. Then you’ll probably want to confirm that your information remains private, which right now it’s probably not.

Then again privacy and Facebook don’t seem to mix.

I would describe Facebook as the first successful Internet scheme designed to turn normal people into attention-craving media whores. Consider Tiger Woods.

Now if Tiger Woods weren’t the world’s most famous and bestest golfer, and if he weren’t worth one billion dollars, then he’d just be another slimy jerk who cheated on his wife. Several times. But no, Tiger is very famous, so we’re all interested and share in the gossip. That’s human nature.

It’s my belief that Facebook capitalizes upon our craving for fame. Lots of people want to be rich and famous, probably more famous than rich. They want to see their mug on the cover of People, Us, and even the National Enquirer — all the trash tabloids.

Because most people lack fame or wealth, the only thing I see that sates their desires is Facebook. That’s where you find all kinds of stuff people normally wouldn’t boast about in public, in public.

On Facebook I’ve seen mild examples of embarrassing things touted for the world to see: questionable photos, posts about medical procedures, angry tirades against people, and personal information sane people would never scream on a street corner. Even the mundane, “I’m doing laundry now LOL” message gets shared with all humanity.

All humanity includes, naturally, everyone. That means future employers, friends, associates, and well, everyone. I’m sure that there are plenty of young people today who posts pictures of themselves sucking on a bong — riotous stuff! LOL — that they will regret when they go in to interview for an $80,000/year job.

“No, I’m sorry, Snowflake. But Jeremy here has pictures on Facebook of himself going to church and volunteering at the homeless shelter. He gets the job. That picture of you showing off your nipple ring was the deciding factor.”

Some kids don’t get it.

I can’t help fight stupidity, especially the part of a young person’s brain that won’t accept the concept of permanence. But I can assist you in directing Facebook to restrict indexing of your information.

Indexing is the process whereby a search engine, such as Google or Bing, plows through the Internet to collect information. It’s possible to restrict indexing of your Facebook information. If you don’t, then indexing is on automatically, which is probably not want you want. (Unless it’s your life’s desire to have everything idiotic you post about yourself available for anyone to peruse.)

  1. On Facebook, choose Settings from the top of the page and select Privacy Settings from that menu.
  2. On the Privacy Settings page, click the Search link.
  3. For the item Public Search Results, remove the check mark by the Allow item. If this item is already un-checked, then Facebook lets you know before you even see the page. Otherwise, un-check it.

Even if Facebook doesn’t allow indexing, don’t prance around thinking your various indiscretions published on Facebook remain private. Remember: Anything you post on the Internet can be retrieved. Anything.

You’ve been warned.

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