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FaceBook Privacy – reality check

Many privacy evangalists, like Dan Yoder, have taken facebook to a beating, as far as recommending you quit. This follows a series of Privacy policy changes from Facebook on an excuse to protecting themselves. It turns out Dan's points have quite a few compelling reasons to actually quit.

However, personally, I would not - but would definitely advice a lot of caution to use ANY of FaceBook's features. Always protects yours and your friends' information. Reduce the visibility of any information to minimum or atleast only to your friends. And if possible omit it all together. As a general rule of thumb – only let that information go into facebook that has NO implication whatsoever, if revealed. To ANYONE – And I mean - your boss, collegues, girlfriends, wifes (ex-wifes :P).

For  quick reality check how much can be dug out of your facebook profile WITHOUT logging in, you can head on to http://zesty.ca/facebook/. And remember, this is as much information ANYONE can get.

As a matter of fact, The Applications (read farmville, flirtmeter, *What/How do you think/do/feel @#!$#* quizes) you approve and Sites you do *Facebook Connect* with have even more access to data (yes, probably even the ones you have reduced visibility. As a Developer, I know, how much information is available. And if its in the wrong hands (read *Those stupid Quiz* apps) – it will haunt you and your friends.

So please. We all love the social benifits. Like they say – To earn some you have to lose some. Just be vary, you are losing a lot for a lot less to earn, by not keeping secrets on facebook.

p.s. This also applies to all other Social Sites. Especially those which dont have enough credibility, inadequate privacy policy. These sites are predators harvesting your information for their monetary gains. My advice – be knowledgeful – and dont send me a friend invite otherwise!
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