Facebook Files For a Patent To Track Its Users On Other Sites 133
suraj.sun sends word that a recent Facebook patent application details specific methods for tracking its users while they're using other websites. Michael Arrington pointed out over the weekend that this follows explicit statements from Facebook employees that the social networking giant has "no interest in tracking people." Quoting the Patent Application:
"In one embodiment, a method is described for tracking information about the activities of users of a social networking system while on another domain. The method includes maintaining a profile for each of one or more users of the social networking system, each profile identifying a connection to one or more other users of the social networking system and including information about the user. The method additionally includes receiving one or more communications from a third-party website having a different domain than the social network system, each message communicating an action taken by a user of the social networking system on the third-party website. The method additionally includes logging the actions taken on the third-party website in the social networking system, each logged action including information about the action."
I gave up... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Let me get this right.. (Score:5, Interesting)
The claim that they don't track users runs on CNN where all the Facebook users see it while the patent news runs on Slashdot, where the security experts who are already seen by their friends and family as tinfoil hatters see it. It's not illogical. It's a calculated lie.
Don't "do facebook", anyone question... (Score:1, Interesting)
WHY I also set myself up the way I do online layering of security measures, in:
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1.) Custom HOSTS files (mine's currently 1,586,590++ entries strong vs. known malicious sites/servers, botnet C&C servers, bogus adbanners (& ads in general) servers, phishing + spamming sites, & for security's sake alone (I get more out of it speedwise too via "hardcoding fav. sites" into it also, avoiding DNS redirected-poisoned dns servers, & getting there faster by avoiding them totally (their slower lookup vs. my SSD based & cached ones from HOSTS, locally, instead of slower remotely)).
2.) DNSBL filtering DNS servers (NortonDNS, OpenDNS, ScrubIT DNS are all in my IP stack dns servers list, & in my router-firewall too).
3.) Firewall IP rules tables (to catch IP addresses more than host-domain named ones - HOSTS does that too)
4.) IP Security Policies (Via Windows NT-based OS' security policies (I do both domain & local level here)).
5.) OS security hardening -> http://www.google.com/search?sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=%22HOW+TO+Secure+Windows+2000%2FXP%22&btnG=Search [google.com] , which includes remotely listening services if not needed especially &/or potentially vulnerable ones + shares remotely solicited.
6.) IP stack hardening -> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff648853.aspx [microsoft.com]
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( & FAR more in the way of "layered-security/defense-in-depth" stuff, such as using Opera 11.51 to setup a GLOBAL policy for all sites to not use javascript, iframes, cookies, plugins, java etc. "everywhere", & only set it up, via Opera's "By Site Preferences" exceptions list, & only for sites that actual DEMAND their usages (think ecommerce sites) only - PLUS, using its urlfilter.ini file, custom .pac files, & custom CSS sheets )
I.E.-> To simply stay away from what makes you "sick online" by lessening its attack surface area + tools it can use against you (as well as for you, the double-edged sword that any scripted document, yes, including HTML ones, can be)
Why?
* See my p.s. below...
APK
P.S.=> I do ALL that, & more, just to avoid:
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A.) Tracking (not using javascript @ all, or using sites that 'track you' not only thru their own mass, but thru the mass of other sites too? For Pete's sake, lol, 'enough already')
B.) To avoid malware
C.) To avoid losses of speed & to gain back loads of it too!
D.) To obtain great security for decades online
E.) To get MORE OF WHAT I PAY FOR OUT OF POCKET!
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Is why, & I have for DECADES now (so have others in the url's above)...haven't been infected online since 1996 in fact because of the above & can make a DSL connection seem like high-end cable or FIOS for websurfing online... +, 4 FREE, & the above's just a part of the "how" is all...
... apk
Well, yeah. (Score:3, Interesting)