Gwebs Cryptographer

Social networking seems to be pop right now, how many people you know that they use / don’t use social network applications like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Orkut, XiaoNei (校内 in China), or other ones. Can you honestly say that you have never even heard of these applications ? Yeah, that’s what I thought.. These apps are integrating to our daily life, and eventually someone will ask “How we kept in touch with our friends before social networks?” Just like my friend’s kid asked me once that “What you were doing at work before internet?”. I think these questions will make people to think that how dependent they really are about technology and services.

But more interesting is that how many people really trusts into these open and free networks. Some time ago Facebook got so much publicity when they announced that all data what users have put in it will be theirs, so basically all the personal data, pictures, videos, etc. Then just a bit later, they told to users that there are no worries, that everything will be just fine. And now, hardly no-one even remembers that anymore.

It seems to be that internet is so full about different kinds of social networks and applications which are collecting users private data. And I think it will be only the matter of time when someone will steal all that data, ’cause normally these services are not having so strong security. One reason might be the money issue, although I guess nowadays quite many people will be interested to pay a bit for example the usage of Facebook, if they can be sure that all their data is secured. But on the other hand, there are plenty of users who think beforehand that what information they are willing to share and which information not. And just like Barack Obama advised kids, that be aware that once you post something into the internet, you can be sure that I will be digged up later, if it can be used against you. So maybe it will be nice to take a look for Facebook Etiquette as well, although most of these things are more or less self-evident, but I think still worth of reading through.

I read a couple of articles some days ago about privacy and security issues in social networks/webs, just like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and so on. (Links to the articles at the end.) These articles are mostly pointing out the same issues which I wrote above, that it’s really users own responsibility what to share and for whom to share it. So many instances are following social networks also like friends, colleagues and family, everybody you like but also quite many you maybe haven’t thought about. Like your boss, different organizations and companies, so basically if you’re planning to apply for a new job, it might be that your profile will be checked through before you will get invitation to the interview. And also talking about that in social network, might make your boss feel unease.

But that’s not everything about privacy issues, there’s also some other things to point out as well. Nowadays, it seems to be that mobile phones are getting closer to laptops and vice versa, so it’s quite normal to update social network profiles through mobile phone. And for up-to-date user it might be self-evident to have anti-virus software also in a mobile phone, but I can tell for sure that most of the users don’t have, any kind security software in their mobiles “I don’t need it, this is Just a phone”, but anyway the users are using all the same programs and applications as with computers. So, basically all the data what user is keeping in secret in his/hers computer, user will freely use in mobile, without thinking that the same “evil”-internet is waiting there as well.

The thing which I brought up the mobile phones into this also, is that what makes people think that if they use one secured system in one place, it won’t be useful, if they use same data with non-secured systems elsewhere. And this includes everything, not only social networks, but emails, contacts, files, pictures, etc.

A while ago there was news about new type of identity / private data phishing, basically there are some applications within social networks, which are collecting different kind of data from users. And then some identity thiefs have been using that data to create virtual-friends for users. So the main idea is that these virtual-friends are sharing something common with user, belonging to same groups or have same interests, then they’re sending friend requests to users. And if user will accept their request, then they will collect all data from that user, what they think is useful for them. Maybe email addresses, phone numbers, street addresses, photos, videos, etc.  So nowadays it’s really recommended for people to check what kind of information they are sharing from themselves and are they really willing to tell all their secrets or thoughts to everyone.

I personally like social networks a lot, and I like that there’s some place where I can enter almost from anywhere to check how my friends are doing and letting them know what’s up in my life as well. I haven’t paid much attention for security issues in social networks, but now after reading these articles, I might take another look for some apps properties and privacy options.

Some of you might think now, that what will be my result to solve these privacy issues, well frankly speaking there is no solution. I can only encourage everyone to think twice before posting anything to social networks,  text, comments, pictures, video, files, etc. what ever is on your mind. Sometimes you might think that with this post your friends appreciate you more or you will get publicity, but be aware that all that data will be saved somewhere and it might pop-up later, when you cannot expect it to happen.

Here are the links for the articles I mentioned earlier:
Fast Company’s article: Privacy and Security Issues in Social Networking
Computer World’s article: Protect your privacy on Facebook and Twitter

Some other articles related to this topic:
Google Warns of Privacy Issues on the Social Web
Exclusive: U.S. Spies Buy Stake in Firm That Monitors Blogs, Tweets

Security, email, personal, privacy, software application, email, Facebook, Mobile, myspace, orkut, privacy, Security, social network, software, twitter, xiaonei