Comments on: Who Has Access to Your Address Book?

By: Data Protection

Data Protection — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:13:20 +0000

The hack seems to be working the same way as Antivirus2009, which is the “wolf in sheep’s clothing hack.” Antivirus2009 showed you a pop-up that said click here to remove spyware from your computer. Of course, that pop-up was the spyware itself, and clicking on it gave it access to your computer. The same can happen on Facebook. If links start popping up on Facebook saying something along the lines of “Facebook detects foul, click here to protect your data” it may be the hackers. Facebook should make its interfaces more complicated and difficult for hackers to copy. Facebook’s current interfaces are too plain anyway, they could use some pizazz!

By: Simon Mackie

Simon Mackie — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:04:22 +0000

@David — no, in normal circumstances, a web site can’t access your hard drive, unless spyware is involved. I think the fee webmail explanation is more likely.

By: David

David — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:47:51 +0000

Can a website access files on your hard drive? I wasn’t aware this was physically possible…

I have a Mac, so a malware download is pretty unlikely, yet Facebook also appears to be mining my Address Book data.

EXCEPT… So far, all of the “incidents” have freemail addresses, so perhaps they all got suckered into giving up their online address book info, and I’m on it.

EXCEPT… The one that I only communicated with from my (now defunct) AOL address. But, that could be friend-of-a-friend…

By: Use Social Networks Effectively

Use Social Networks Effectively — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:11:25 +0000

[...] Use the networks’ automated tools for finding people you know. The networks can, with your permission, review your address book and see who you know who’s already on their network. They also have a “people you may know” function that recommends possible contacts. LinkedIn’s system has worked well for me; Facebook’s seems to be less accurate. The recommendations presented to you are based on background data (schools attended, former jobs) you provide to the networks, so it’s worth the time to provide complete information in your profiles — assuming you are comfortable with their privacy policies. [...]

By: Use Social Networks Effectively – Web Worker Daily « Doug Van Slembrouck

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:59:30 +0000

By: Use Social Networks Effectively

Use Social Networks Effectively — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:01:42 +0000

[...] Use the networks’ automated tools for finding people you know. The networks can, with your permission, review your address book and see who you know that are already on their network. They also have a “people you may know” function that recommends possible contacts. LinkedIn’s system has worked well for me; Facebook’s seems to be less accurate. The recommendations presented to you are based on background data (schools attended, former jobs) you provide to the networks, so it’s worth the time to provide complete information in your profiles — assuming you are comfortable with their privacy policies. [...]

By: keith

keith — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:37:57 +0000

I’ve had the same issue. Friends are suggested with whom I have no friends in common but who are all in my address book. In fact, I had one suggestion who was the wife of someone in my address book. Not random events.
My iphone has the Facebook app. which I sync with my Mac.

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:48:04 +0000

Hi Michael, the same happened to me. I have never given Facebook access to my address book and I have had friend recommendations from people I only have in my address book. I think that when these people allow facebook to have access to their address book, and your email address is in their address book, it will automatically offer a suggestion on your profile.

This is still ethically wrong and should not happen and I think the facebook developers should look into this.

By: Michael W

Michael W — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:37:45 +0000

Hi Charles,

I noticed today after deleting two contacts from my iPhone, facebook then suggested these as friends! Has anyone got to the bottom of what application is stealing data? I use the word stealing, because without going into the small print I never knowingly gave facebook access to my address book.

Thanks

Michael

By: Vijay Rayapati

Vijay Rayapati — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:27:58 +0000

Hi Charles,

At gizapage.com, we value your data as much as we care for our very own profiles data, that was one of the main reasons why we had built in privacy controls in our product.

I agree that social networks need to provide an option for user to tack their profile data to check how and where it is being used like gmail activity.
IMHO, looking at the growth of OAuth/OpenId we clearly need to have a standard security/privacy measures adopted across all players in social web space.

Thanks
Vijay

By: Book review: TASSAJARA DINNERS AND DESSERTS. | Scandinavian Ways | Winesworlds Blog

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:58:49 +0000

[...] Who Has Access to Your Address Book? [...]

By: SmartBlog On Social Media » Blog Archive » Today’s bonus tracks

SmartBlog On Social Media » Blog Archive » Today’s bonus tracks — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:34:32 +0000

[...] How safe is your address book? [...]

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:45:20 +0000

I have just noticed the same thing. Friend suggestions I have no association with other than an email address have been appearing in the suggestion pane. I’m trying to trace the source as everything is synced, Outlook, imap and iphone. I have also recently installed the Facebook iphone app.

This is a serious breach of security that needs looking into. I don’t think Facebook would be so bold to do such a thing. It must be a 3rd party app.

By: physio

physio — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:27:00 +0000

I have to comment on one of your suggestions; ‘Change your system, network, email and web site passwords frequently’. Changing your passwords does not, in any way, make them more secure. It actually makes them less secure because you are more likely to forget them and have to write them down or request new ones, etc.

Pick a good, unique password for each service and stick with it.

By: Simon Mackie

Simon Mackie — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:03:55 +0000

I think the point about removing Facebook apps that you no longer use is a good one. Apps get sold and/or change. Some of the apps I’ve used in the past have changed completely — the risk is that they use your data for purposes you wouldn’t originally have envisaged. This is especially important now that apps are more hidden away, not “front and center” like they used to be in the old Facebook

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:33:47 +0000

I just googled “does facebook hack your address book?” and I found your blog.

I just noticed that my FB homepage (on the top right of the page) where it lists friend suggestions, it has listed people who I have emailed or been CC’d on an email in my Outlook. 3 people today who I don’t have any mutual friends with was suggested to me.

I think that is way too much of a coincidence. How can you find out if Facebook is accessing your email account such as Outlook?
I have Zone Alarms installed.

This is not cool.