KCEN-TV, KCEN-HD, Waco, Temple, Killeen, Bryan, TexasFacebook privacy compromised
TYLER (KYTX) - Months ago we first warned you about Facebook's privacy - and guess what, it happened.
Personal information from more than 100 million Facebook users is now free game online. CBS 19's Amanda Kost has more.
Facebook wasn't hacked. Privacy settings were not breached and passwords weren't stolen, but it only took one man and one program to compile the personal information of millions of Facebook users.
It's all fun and games until your Facebook profile goes public. A security consultant created a software program that scanned Facebook and gathered up public but personal information from profiles. That information was published online for everyone to see. "I don't have an issue with it because it's for me and my friends only. I don't really add people I don't know or anything," said user Jeremy Fuller.
But it has nothing to do with your Facebook friends, and everything to do with your profile privacy settings. If you didn't take the steps to opt out of Facebook's default directory settings, it's likely your information is in the massive database.
"I did opt out, but I know a lot of people who did not," said Maureen Kaiser.
Tyler mother, Maureen Kaiser, wonders if opting out was enough to keep her Facebook profile private. "I know there were so many different settings to change that it kind of makes you concerned that what if there is something I did not catch," said Kaiser.
She's going to double check her profile settings, because Kaiser wants to keep her social networking from invading her privacy.
"Your name being sold to a credit card company is commonplace, but that's not really the concern these days. It's identity theft and crimes that could really be committed against your name and your integrity," said Kaiser.
Here's the scary thing, the man who compiled the information from Facebook users says he wanted to collect their profile pictures, but didn't have enough bandwidth. He plans on going back for more information once he gets more bandwidth.
So, now's the time to guard your profile if you don't want to be on his next database.
