Social Networking Scandal
You know those social networking sites like MySpace, FaceBook, Xanga, etc.? It turns out (not surprisingly) that some of these represent serious privacy issues. These sites are used and signed up for by millions of people everyday. Nearly everyone is on a social networking site, or multiple of them. For many, it is a good way to communicate with friends and show the world who they are that day with the completely personalized profile system. These profiles can be customized every day to show what mood you are in, and you can even upload pictures to show everyone who you are. While this seems like good reasons to use a social networking site, there are many bad people on here who take advantage of the uneducated masses who wouldn’t mess with their privacy settings even if they were taught how to do so.
Recently, two California residents charged the social networking site “Tagged” with sending them false emails to get them to send out more of their personal information. The website allegedly sent these two people an e-mail that said that if they send in their social security numbers that they can sync their profiles with many of their other online programs. The two didn’t fall for it, and quickly reported the disturbing message to authorities. After a little investigating, it was found that someone at “Tagged” was just fishing for information and thought they could get these two users. After the email was traced and the man arrested, the two renounced social networking sites and their kin. “It is too much risk, for too little of a return.”, one of them said. “I think I will just start visiting my friends in real life, where I can be sure they are who they are.”
While this is an isolated case, people’s Internet anonymity and security is threatened and encroached upon by these sites every day. Consider for a moment how much information is on your social networking web page. From here, someone could find your interests, your location, and a good couple of pictures showing what you look like. If you post illicit information on her or licentious pictures, then your potential employer, boss, or college of admission could turn you away, seeing your darker side right on their screen.
From here, someone could steal your information and figure out a bunch of other things with it. Perhaps they write all of the information down, and attempt your secret question through it. Although you wouldn’t think your third grade teachers name wouldn’t come up in conversation online, if it did, all of your friends now can see your secret code.
This all seems like a big risk, and might scare some away from a social networking site. No need for that; the sites can be great for bringing people together and getting caught up with them, but there are definitive risks with them. Use your privacy settings provided on your account, and try using an anonymous proxy or IP changer to keep yourself completely anonymous while surfing online.
Thomas Says:
I can’t tell where I stand with these social networking sites. First of all, they seem like a totally good and awesome thing for getting connected with your current friends, and hopefully making some new ones. The profile idea is really cool too, how you can totally design your own profile however you want and show everybody what your into and stuff like that. The whole picture thing is great too, how you can post pictures and get comments on them and stuff. I admit to being on these social networking sites quite often throughout the day, but I don’t do stupid stuff like some people. It seems like some people purposely put their real life address and social security numbers up there on their page; its like they are being asked to be robbed! I don’t put any of that stuff on my page; just a first name and a few pictures. If they wanna know my last name, they can ask in real life! To be safe to, I use an IP changer that conceals my IP, so I don’t have to worry about hackers trying to break into my page to steal my personal information.