Facebook Privacy

Below I’ve compiled tips about staying private on Facebook. Some of them are in response to specific things that people have brought up.

re: All links are unsafe

Watch OneMoreExploit's quick explanation

There’s no reason to fear all links. You do want to be a little link smart though. If you see http://google.com on Facebook, you can be pretty sure it will take you to Google.  But if you see http://d4g.ws?3f3 you probably want to be very suspicious/untrusting.  Pretend that clicking strange links is like kissing a stranger. Sure, it might feel nice, but if you get a cold sore, it’s really going to suck! If there is ever a question, you can ask me, and I’ll let you know if the link is safe or not.

[Updated 02-14-2011] There’s a free bookmarklet or Firefox extension called LongURLPlease that will reveal what is behind that shortened URL that you’re not sure about.  Sometimes it can make it blatantly obvious that you shouldn’t click that link! [/Update]

re: “sexy ladies asking to be my friend [...] are usually hackers”

There is some truth in this. I wouldn’t say that every one of those accounts is a hacker, per se, though. Still, don’t friend people you don’t know. Those accounts may be someone just trying to gather information about you and your friends.

re: “whenever [any apps] ask for personal info from my profile”

Every application wants personal info. They aren’t “free” – they cost your information and the people who you are friends with. That being said, you have to make up your own mind who to give access to that info. Just like when you’re accessing an account of yours over the phone, you have to decide, “Do I really trust this person representing the company NOT to steal my personal information?”

re: “Sometimes just changing your password will help.”

Changing your password will only help if someone else has your password. You can be notified whenever a log on occurs on your account. Here’s how: http://lifehacker.com/5536286/get-notified-when-someone-else-logs-into-your-facebook

However, if you’ve given an application access to your account, they don’t care what your password is. You’ve already authorized them until you unauthorize them. Here is how to undo their access:

http://lifehacker.com/5521960/delete-facebook-apps-that-now-have-greater-access-to-your-data

Here are two tools to help you know your privacy levels:
http://www.reclaimprivacy.org
http://www.privacydefender.net

[Updated 10-28-2010] A third tool (HT: @LifeHacker) would be this Facebook app that actually is like an antivirus/antimalware/antispyware security layer for Facebook:

http://apps.facebook.com/bd-safego/

[/Update]

I hope all this information helps!