How vulnerable are you on Facebook? Try ZoneAlarm Privacy Scan and find out today. Scan now!
Facebook is offering Graph Search as the best way to figure out how you are connected to other users and to discover people you may have more things in common with. Someone can search for men over 30 living in Seattle who like to go kayaking. Or search for friends who liked football and live in Cleveland. Users can use the results to make plans with friends and like-minded folks.
But privacy advocates warn there are creepy ways to use the tool. British tech blogger Tom Scott listed some troubling searches on a Tumblr page “Actual Facebook Graph Searches,” such as a search for “Family members of people who live in China and like Falun Gong,” a religious movement banned in China, or “Single women who live nearby and who are interested in men and like getting drunk!”
CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Graph Search last month, which Facebook is in the midst of slowly rolling out to users. Users create a “social graph” to look for friends and other Facebook users with overlapping data in the user profile pages, interests, and “likes” saved on the social networking site.
The new feature builds its search results only on information the user has made visible, and respects all privacy settings. Friends who already have access to see a user’s data will see that user pop up on the search.
Facebook also restricts the search results for minors. Details such as birthday, school, hometown, and current city for users under 18 will only be available to their friends and “friends of friends” who are also under 18, Facebook said. Of course, this protection will only work if the minor told the truth about their age in the first place.
Even so, now is a very good time to go over your privacy settings to control what information about you shows up on other people’s Graph Searches. “ZoneAlarm’s Privacy Tips for Facebook” has some useful suggestions. You can also evaluate your privacy with ZoneAlarm’s free Facebook Privacy Scan.
First, limit who can search for you on Facebook. To restrict your profile, and Graph Search results, to show up only for friends and not “friends of friends,” click on the lock icon on the top right of the profile page. On the “Who can lookup your timeline by name” setting, select the answer to be just “Friends.”
Secondly, regularly go through the Activity Log and clean up all the photos you are tagged in, the likes you’ve shared with friends, and all the places you’ve checked in that you don’t want appearing in Graph Search. If you don’t want them to come up, dump them from your profile.
Click the lock icon on the top right of the profile page and select “Review all your posts and things you’re tagged in.” By looking at the Activity you can either click on the icon of two-people’s heads to limit the visibility of every post, like, tag, comment, or photo. Facebook doesn’t offer any bulk review tools, so you will have to review every item ever entered one at a time.
Third, even if you have restricted your current posts and profile, older posts may still be accessible. Click on the lock icon on the top right of the profile page, and bring up the “Limit the audience for old posts on your timeline” setting. You can “Limit Past Posts” and “Limit Old Posts.”
Fourth, organize friends into lists so that you can control who can access photos and posts. The lists can also help decide what levels of access these friends should have. For example, co-workers don’t necessarily need to see or search photos.
“As always, when sharing anything on Facebook, remember to use good judgment and share responsibly,” Facebook Safety recently wrote on its page.
gangstalking stasi problems: I have a corrupted USB from using the looscan houston public library. Do you have any free downloads that will work in a USB to keep them from altering my data and inloading viruses in it?
You can try out our ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall or select from our 30-day trial downloads here: http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/anti-virus-spyware-free-download.htm
Please make sure to uninstall any third-party PC security software and reboot before downloading and installing ZoneAlarm. Running more than one firewall or antivirus software may cause crashes and undesired performance.
Once installed you can scan the removable storage by right-clicking on it then select, “Scan with ZoneAlarm Antivirus”.
I started to run the scan when I remembered that using an app on FB opens you to all apps. Question I have is why is this scan classified as an app if you are trying to show vulnerabilities? Seems to me, using the scan opens you to more problems. If I am incorrect, please explain. Thank you.
Our Facebook Privacy scan app scans for vulnerabilities your Facebook account may have, and we provide steps on how to address these vulnerabilities.
Forgive me, but your answer did not address my question. Your scan is considered an App by FB and using their definition, the following applies:
“Can apps store my info?
The Developer Principles and Policies require that apps and websites explicitly ask for permission to access you and your friends’ info. When you grant that permission, apps can store the info they receive, but they are not allowed to transfer your info without your consent or use your info for advertisements. If you’d like the info that you’ve shared with the app to be permanently deleted, contact the developer directly.”
I have blocked all apps and do not accept invitations or even “Like” anything because of the TOS or EULAs regarding privacy issues. In other words, if your scan is an APP, doesn’t that impact my privacy regarding the opening the door to other Apps. I hope you can give me a more clear and definitive response in regard to my initial question. Thank you.
P.S. Funny, after posting my response, I noticed you have a FB “Like” on this very page. Again, “Liking” something is a vulnerability. So technically, using the scan and/or “Liking” your app, are vulnerabilities themselves which leave you exposed to the mercy of all apps on FB, Again, if I am in error, my apologies, but I have spent much time reading the TOS and EULAs re FB apps, etc., and feel I am pretty much knowledgeable regarding the repercussions. Unfortunately, most people do not read them as they are lengthy and confusing. One thing I know for sure, by using an app, groups, etc., not only exposes me to privacy issues, but without permission, puts anyone on my “Friends List” open to having their information open to being farmed, their friends, and on and on. It’s one thing to give permission to allow my own information to be used, however, opening others without permission is completely unacceptable.
BIG BROTHER TACTICS, I maye close my FB account down, after all what is it, a gas bags paradise, not very much useful stuff comes from it, they make millions from advertising thet I think is pathetic.
I did the privacy scan. Do I want a high number or a low number?
You actually want an optimal score of 100.
What exactly is your ZA Facebook Scan app supposed to do? All it does when I try is go round in circles? I have running on the next Tab in Firefox as I write. It’s reloading the page continuously. “Check point – Facebook” – one second
and now
“Connecting”.
This is all it does ! I left it for 35 mins – It’s still doing the same thing?
Confused and not impressed as this exactly what some of the Apps that were deciding dodgy used to do and that is why I got rid of them. The confusion here is that this is an App that is supposed to detect Security Issues with FB – some of which would be those dodgy Apps I just mentioned.
What’s the problem here?
Thanks.
Our Facebook Privacy Scan does a scan of your Facebook account and renders a score, where 100% is optimal. We then given suggested tips on what you can do to increase your score, which means an increase in your privacy on Facebook.
Are you still experiencing the issue. If possible, send us a screenshot through private message of what you’re seeing via our Facebook page @ wwww.facebook.com/zonealarmfirewall.
I had the same issue, I was able to correct it by allowing 3rd party cookies, if you are still having the issue you can try that.
Or just don’t open a Facebook account in the first place, since its primary purpose is to monetise your private data and serve you adverts.
James, I agree.
And to those online newspapers and other periodicals that require one to log into Facebook in order to comment online on stories — phooey!
I tried to comment on MSN story (about Facebook) using my Hotmail account (NOT Facebook), and the sign-in window said “Facebook wants to view your profile, contact list, and email addresses”…..
Big Brother is watching
Zuckerbug’s point that the age limitation will only work providing the minor told the truth about their age in the first place is only half the problem. It’s common sense to assume the predators out there would not tell the truth about THEIR age when they begin the search. Facebook is a liability, y’all. It’s risks outweigh it’s benefits. Period.
How long should it take for the scan to complete? Mine is going on and on, but I have more than 4 years of posts online with FB. Does it go through ALL posts and comments, from the newest to the oldest? I’m trying to figure out how long to let it run before shutting it down. Not going to let it run for hours.
I would send you a screenshot, but the scan keeps showing a black page (with a side bar to the right that lists recommend games) and it cycles through stating on the tab “Zonealarm Privacy Scan on Facebook” and “Connecting.” I do note that every time it cycles a different page/item code is shown in the address bar…..
I am using Firefox 17.0.1 if that matters. Win 7 Home Premium
Thanks for any assistance or explanation you can offer.
I’ll try it in a different browser and see if it does the same thing.
Worked quickly without any problems using Chrome Version 25.0.1364.97 m.
So whatever the problem is, it is with Firefox.
ZoneAlarm Facebook Privacy scan only scans the last month. We’re currently investigating this issue.
This appears to be an endless loop that provides no information at all.
We’re currently investigating this issue.
Hi
Its funny, I have a score of 100 in two out of the four tested fields and none in this one
Wide Audience Posts
None of your posts in the past month are visible to friends of friends.
but the colour indicator is green
and my final is zero.
Can you please explain
Looks to be a bug, and we’re currently investigating. Thanks.
After reading about smartphone malware and viruses, does Checkpoint have any plans to protect smartphoes. Especially the Adroid softeware. I currently have a HTC Thunderbolt.
Ron
We currently do not, however, that’s always a possibility for the future.
#1- Just how can a person delete their FB account? There does not seem to be any way to get rid of FB.
#2- When I first opened a FB account by accepting an invitation from an acquaintance I took the time consuming chore of making every setting private. How do they get around this?
#3- On top of that FB started sending emails to every one of my secondary email accounts. I only gave them one email address. How do they do this?
FB has to be the most unethical firm I have ever encountered.
1) Click on “gear” icon the upper right on your Facebook page then select Account Settings. From there, on the upper left click on Security. On the bottom, you can then deactivate your account.
2)You’ll have to ask Facebook
3) Not sure what you mean. You’ll have to contact Facebook
Hm. I get Zero. Is that bad?
Does the Facebook scan work in Chrome?
Yes, it works with Chrome. Some people for some reason are experiencing issues with the scan, though when we run the scan on our end there is no issues whatsoever. We’re currently investigating.
I can see 5 fixes for all of the facebook problems.
1: delete all information in your account
2: delete all wall posts in your account
3: give your physical friends and family your phone number
4: deactivate your account
5: get off your backside and live life like people did 25 years ago!
I could not find most of the things in the steps above on facebook UI. the lock icon did not contain the restrict timeline option, you say to go over the Activity Log, I couldn’t find that anywhere. Same lack of finding the option to limit the old posts. i think facebook must have different UI’s and this causes trouble telling anyone where to find things.
http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en/support/privacy-tip-detail.htm?tip=2
There are indeed significant risk in regards to privacy when dealing with online social media platform. Quite often, many are not aware of the fact that content published or posted on Facebook wall status can turn out to be nightmare months or even years down the road.
Facebook Graph Search can potentially become a very dangerous tool for stalkers and those who prey on victims online…
ZA!
Thank you so much for this post.
And to all those who contributed their comments,
I have nothing to add, just a huge gratitude to you all.
Not to post, please. I forgot to check “notify me the follow up” and “notify me new post by e-mail.”
Thank you
Thanks Zone Alarm, worked quickly and efficiently for me. Good idea.
There’s some irony to the fact that the ZA app asks for permissions I don’t give facebook programs. Why on earth does it need my contacts and all that to check my privacy. Zone alarm this is the second time now you have done something like this as far as sending out a mail promoting a solution that was in fact worse than the problem.
Facebook can be used safely with proper use of privacy settings and by respecting that of your friends by not giving them to apps that demand them like this one.
When I received the Facebook email I did the scan and scored 100. I had not made any changes and repeated the scan today and it is down to 90. I have followed the instuctions ad best I could, but cannot get my score back up to 100. Any ideas?
Did you by chance make any posts on your status or a friend’s wall? If so, those activity may have lowered the score from 100 to 90. Also, we’re currently working on some components of the Facebook Privacy Scan, so that may have caused the drop in score as well. In any case visit our Privacy Tips page to learn how to protect your privacy on Facebook. http://www.zonealarm.com/privacytips.
Trying to run Facebook Privacy Scan and all it does is show a “flower” looking thing going round and round. Shut it down twice and still getting the same response. Something else I should be doing?
Make sure you allow all permissions. Also, if you’re using firefox, try using another browser.
there were some problems with this app–have they been fixed? i just ran the scan, and my stats are way off. i’ve ‘liked’ at least 10 things today, yet my stat for the past month was 6. the other stats were similarly wrong. ????
Thanks for the feedback. We’ve forwarded the issue you ran into to our development team.
Hi ,my husband just bought your ZoneAlarm internet security .After full download the ZoneAlarm and scan computer all done fine but I have a problems can’t open my facebook login to in my account
it show this web not found and Internet Explore can’t display ,I also try to open from Firefox don’t open ata all !!
Please help me how to open or sometings setting need in the ZoneAlarm programs ???
Our product does not block Facebook login.
That’s a pity, or you would have THE HOLY GRAIL of websurfers – a way to block ALL of Facebook popups, multi-cookies, etc. There are tons of websites I won’t go near because of Facebook prying.