By default, Facebook sends your access credentials in the clear, with no encryption whatsoever. Switching to HTTPS is important because a browserextension called Firesheep has made it especially easy for anyone sharing your open wireless network—at cafe or conference, for example—to sniff your credentials and freely access your account. One blogger sitting in a random New York Starbucks was able to steal 20-40 Facebook identities in half an hour. HTTPS solves this longstanding problem by encrypting your login cookies and other data; in fact the inventor of Firesheep made the software to encourage companies like Facebook to finally lock down their systems. You can sign up for Facebook HTTPS by going to Account Settings and then selecting “Account Security,” third from the bottom. Then click under “Secure Browsing” — if it’s there. Facebook says everyone should have this by the end of the day, but in the meantime you might be missing the relevant option toggle.
Just a heads up for anyone using Facebook. Always good to be safe online. I am very wary of Facebook and rarely use it, certainly not to share information/pictures I wouldn’t want snatched up somehow. Stay safe out there ATS and Merry Christmas!
Apart from the general perceptions about the security aspects of Facebook,I came to know that Students misuse Facebook by posting photos taken of teachers taken in the class,especially lady teachers.
In an instance, a boy has posted the phone numbers of his male teacher,asking girls to contact him for sexual favors!
Now this news that people can access your account from any where through by an inbuilt system.
Sharing personal information may be thrill.
But this move may prove to be fatal,figuratively and literally.
Human tendency is to share information,but they are restrained because of personal equations and the apprehension that they may be misundersttod.
This barrier is broken when one interacts with a faceless friend(!)
When one tends to be cautious with known people, it is not wise to divulge information to faceless people or people with false identities.
Related articles
- A Guide to Sniffing Out Passwords and Cookies (and How to Protect Yourself Against It) [Video] (gizmodo.com)
- Researchers extend Firesheep to exploit Google Search data leak (nakedsecurity.sophos.com)
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