Facebook Spyware

[maxximilian]

There was a time when any site that deposited tracking cookies on your system, we called it spyware. So how is Facebook getting away with tracking people who have logged out of facebook?

Yet another reason why Facebook will never get my real name and bio....

http://nikcub-cache.appspot.com/logg...-is-not-enough

The advice is to log out of Facebook. But logging out of Facebook only de-authorizes your browser from the web application, a number of cookies (including your account number) are still sent along to all requests to facebook.com. Even if you are logged out, Facebook still knows and can track every page you visit. The only solution is to delete every Facebook cookie in your browser, or to use a separate browser for Facebook interactions.

The primary cookies that identify me as a user are still there (act is my account number), even though I am looking at a logged out page. Logged out requests still send nine different cookies, including the most important cookies that identify you as a user

This is not what 'logout' is supposed to mean - Facebook are only altering the state of the cookies instead of removing all of them when a user logs out.

With my browser logged out of Facebook, whenever I visit any page with a Facebook like button, or share button, or any other widget, the information, including my account ID, is still being sent to Facebook. The only solution to Facebook not knowing who you are is to delete all Facebook cookies.

[Dude111]

Dont let them know they dont have your REEAL NAME or they will delete your account!!!!! (Which wouldnt be a bad thing)

Facebook is a spy program and EVERYONE SHOULD GET OFF IT!!!!

[maxximilian]

Google+ gave me flack about using a real name too. I disputed the charge (even though they were correct) and they haven't bothered me since. They could both bounce me and I wouldn't mind too much. Big social networks are like the gorilla in the living room....you don't want it, but you can't ignore it.

The thing I find most interesting is that if any government agency did half of what Facebook does, people would be screaming about their rights. Yet they freely allow Facebook to do it. I don't get it.....

[jdc2000]

More info on the issue:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/facebook/f...44?tag=nl.e539

[cdroman]

I delete all cache cookies etc. any time I log out of a site. Don't see why anyone needs to keep cookies on their pc after logging out. I don't worry about sites tracking me. If I'm going to do some surfing that I don't want to be easily tracked, I go the elite proxy route. But that is rare. As far as FB; people grant all sorts of permissions to apps etc. there. I don't allow apps anything if I go there, but that's just me.

[maxximilian]

http://techland.time.com/2011/09/27/...cy-breach-fix/

The issue was outed by developer Nik Cubrilovic on Sunday. "They're sending the information to their servers, even when they (users) are logged out," Cubrilovic told The Australian. "It's a question of what they do with it. They may not do [anything] with it now, but in two years' time, they might introduce a new feature that accesses it."


Facebook's already reacted to the story, guns-a-blazin', pledging to correct the issue by Wednesday this week, it seems. In fact, in an unusual move, they responded directly to Cubrilovic, promising to "fix" the privacy glitch, as well as three other cookie-related issues during a 40-minute conference call Tuesday afternoon.

"They aim to fix it (the logout issue) by tomorrow," said Cubrilovic. "There will still be cookies, but they won't be identifiable. That's within 24 hours. We can only take them at their word."

[jdc2000]

Another link:

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/...rivacy-breach/

ALso check out this one on Spotify:

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news...unt-no-spotify

[maxximilian]

Facebook is quite clearly the virtual equivalent of the anti-christ....

Seriously though.....how many "mistakes" does FB get to make before people realize they are doing it on purpose? Either FB has the worst coders on the net, or they are slimy, disgusting, money-grubbing, peeping toms. It can only be one or the other.

[Dude111]

Big social networks are like the gorilla in the living room....you don't want it, but you can't ignore it.

I ignore it just fine