Showing posts with label social networks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social networks. Show all posts
Thursday, February 9, 2012
UK Private Investigators Advise Caution in Social Networks



Mark Zuckerberg and his billion dollar company is going public and soon investors around the world will be able to buy shares of one of the most successful internet companies.  If you have a Facebook profile, did you know that your information is being sold along with that IPO?  That’s right, by sharing all that private information, Facebook has sold everything they know about you to third parties, companies, advertisers and other unknown buyers.  You are for sale, and Facebook and other social networking sites want you to share all the information you can!

There are over 750 million users who have helped Mr. Zuckerberg earn more money than most people can dream of.  His secret, using your private information without your knowledge, and then selling that information for the highest price possible, to as many buyers as possible.  And Facebook is not alone (although Google and Facebook rank the worst in violating user’s privacy).  What you share on the internet, and even your searching online is being watched. 

If a person and his company getting super rich thanks to all your sharing of personal information on his website without offering you any reward for your valuable information isn’t enough reason for you to think twice about Facebook, perhaps you should pay attention to all the risks involved in all this sharing.  Law enforcement and UK private investigators say increasing numbers of crimes are being committed by using information found on the internet, and users of social networking sites such as Linkedin, Facebook and countless others are prime hunting grounds for criminals.  All that you share is not private, even if you think it is only seen by your friends.  The information is being sold and shared, and Big Brother is watching you.  Google and Facebook are busy compiling extensive information about you, so you can be sold to companies and advertisers.

Facebook violates your privacy right and that is a crime, according to the U.S. constitution (4rth Amendment). With its new application Timeline, Facebook makes more public information you posted since the first day you joined the network, and that includes thoughts, shares, pictures and comments you did in other friends’ profiles. That is a risk even if you are trying to find a better job or you just changed your political or religious views from those you had 2 or 4 years ago.

Posting employment and education information online, and your date of birth, full name, etc is  a fast way to be a victim of identity theft.  Think your full name and age on the internet is safe to publish?  Think again.  Sites that blatantly publish your private data without your consent such as PeopleFinders, Intelius, MyLife and Spokeo make it easy for criminals and others to find your information, including your siblings, date of birth and address.  Google Maps and other sites even put a picture of your home on the internet, so criminals know how to get there.

Most of the people accessing your information on the internet are probably law abiding citizens,  But, mixed in with them are cyber criminals, rapists, pedophiles, business frauds and con artists, romance scammers and even murderers around the world.  Social networking sites are the choice among criminals to learn about you, stalk you, and gather information to steal your identity, money or even cause you or your family physical harm.  Be safe, think twice when posting on social networking sites and remember, your private information is valuable – guard it.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2012 A Hathaway
Read more
Friday, January 6, 2012
Private Investigators Reveal How Privacy is Violated by Social Networks



Before the end of the world came (according to the Mayan calendar), 2011 was known as the year of social networks. Facebook alone is considered the fourth country in the world just because its population of over 700 million users. Google has positioned itself as the most important search engine in the history of internet; considered a monopoly by most internet users in the land of free market and fair competition. There companies are the grapes of wrath for any marketing strategist craving for information and mega databases, the largest ever seen in history. What is Facebook and Google doing with all this information on its users? The answer is simple and obvious, both are using the information to profit, i.e. to make money of your private information. Both are tracking how and why you use the internet, what your habits are, and making big money.

Information is power. Search engines and social networks make your information easily accessible to just about anyone online, putting your face, photos, address, phone number, professional and education history, what you did last weekend, and more, all online for the world to see. The result? Evidence shows a sharp rise in identity theft, invasion of privacy, financial loss, home robberies and invasions, and in some cases, even rape and murder. In some cases, criminals will use social networks to see what your plans are, when you’re home, when you’re not. Criminals will search Google to find out your address, and Google maps to see what your home looks like, what the neighbors’ homes look like, and how they might break in. Co-workers are search online public records about how much your home is worth.

Google is tracking your every move online, and selling the information to well, no one really knows. The left leaning company has made it clear that it has a biased political agenda, and in some cases cooperated with big government to share private information on its users with the government. All of this can be done in the name of “national security” but you can be sure that Google is getting paid. Facebook says it is serious about protecting privacy of its users, but how can it be when using that information is precisely how the company makes money? Ads targeted to your likes, or your friends likes, who’s following who, etc? What you like or who you are is how the company and its affiliates target you with ads, and sell your information and preferences.

International private investigators warn that posting personal information on the internet is not a smart idea. No matter how safe the site appears to be, remember that information on the web can be used by anyone, for any reason, for good or bad. Think your page is private and can only be seen by your “friends”? Well, ask yourself if everyone on your list is truly a trusting and reliable close friend? The bottom line is that no website is 100% immune from fraud and scams, or theft of information. Major banks have account information stolen every year. Is your private information, photos and date of birth, name and address and more really that safe on Facebook?

Posting about a stupid thing you did last weekend can cost you a job opportunity, or even your current job, as Human Resource managers are now searching the internet about you.

Facebook keeps all its users’ information backed up in enormous servers in the U.S., Canada and Ireland, and though users are protected by each country’s laws and firewalls, all information is subject to hacking. If China can hijack American satellites, you can bet a group of criminals can access Facebook’s databases and servers. From posts, photographs, videos, comments, applications and acquaintances of their subscribers, even if they delete it or cancel their profiles, information is still there. What you post in Hi5, MySpace, Badoo, Friendster, Google+, Facebook or even Flickr, could later come back to haunt you.

Google+ exposes their users’ and their contacts every day by letting anyone know who you associate with. Even worse, Google maps exposes your address and location, and a photograph of your house and sometimes even your car. Thanks to them, cyber criminals not only get your email address and contact list, but learn who is your closest friend or even your child or spouse. When a criminal can quickly get your address and photo of your home online, and the approximate value of your home, and your daily habits and schedule, there is a high risk for crime and theft.

Professional private investigation agencies stress to be careful about posting personal information online because it is being used by social network sites for profit, without your knowledge. This violation of privacy is then made worse by search engines…

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2011 A Hathaway
Read more
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)