Anti-social networking
The more we tell the world, the easier it is for crooks to use information in ways we never intended.
Published: 8/06/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business
Have you ever received an intriguing message posted on your Facebook wall - presumably from one of your friends - asking you to click the link provided? Or an advertising testimonial on Twitter from your favourite football player?
Perhaps you have found a fake Facebook account with your name and profile picture. That happened to a Thai university professor shortly after the Japanese earthquake and visitors were tricked into believing that she was raising money for disaster relief.
Everyone these days enjoys using social networks, but the more we tell our friends - and the world - the more vulnerable we become to cybercrooks and scam artists. And now that businesses are increasingly using the likes of Facebook and Twitter for marketing, they too are becoming highly vulnerable to having their entire online presence compromised.
Identity theft is becoming a major danger for social network users, according to Kaspersky Lab, a Russian-based IT security and threat management company. For one thing, people don't always know their online friends in real life, and social networks do not usually verify the identities of users creating accounts.
Security experts say that "identity hijacking" involves a profile being created using the victim's real name, and then that person's real friends are infiltrated. The identity thieves cultivate their contacts and then threaten victims with the publication of embarrassing pictures or compromising comments. The only thing that will save their victims' virtual reputations is money.
A general user's information and picture offer a cybercriminal an easy point of entry to steal an identity and create a fake account, says Nakrop Niamnamtham, managing director of nForce Security Systems AP, an information security solution distributor.
"Social networks are a double-edged sword. In my own experience, I received negative reactions from my friends and later found that those friends had formed a bad impression based on messages and activities on my fake Facebook account," Mr Nakrop recalled.
In some cases criminals use the real name and photo of an attractive woman to create a fake account and lure men to transfer money. The real person has no idea what's going on.
Social networks are also becoming key distribution points for malware or malicious software, the recent Koobface worm that affected Facebook being a prime example, according to Kaspersky Lab.
This secretive worm sent several waves of private messages to Facebook users, announcing that new photos featuring them had been published online. Clicking on the link in the message infected the user's PC, enabling it to be controlled remotely by hackers.
The PC then becomes part of what's known as a botnet, a network of computers that is used to attack other networks or for sending spam. Koobface distributes itself via existing user accounts and their friend lists on social networks.
It does so by sending comments and messages that contain, for example, links to fake YouTube pages, inviting users to download the current version of Flash Player to view the video. Instead of adding video or Flash to their systems, however, the worm infects them.
Nopchai Tangthritham, a technical director of Symantec, the US-based security software vendor, says that the inherent trust we place in social networks, especially of messages coming from friends, makes it easy for attacks to succeed.
He said his company also found that hackers were using shortened web links to hide malware, especially on Twitter.
Mr Nakrob noted that most social networks allow a user to set different privacy settings for confirmed friends in contrast to public strangers. Facebook distinguishes three groups of visitors - direct friends, friends of friends, or everyone - which helps classify the level of information and photos to share with others.
But how many users are aware of and know how to adjust their privacy settings? Despite repeated warnings and heavy media coverage, most people never touch their Facebook settings after initially making a few clicks on the day they set up their accounts.
Third-party applications such as games and horoscopes will ask users' permission to access their detailed information, so before using any third-party app via a social network, one needs to check its authenticity.
"Even for such a little piece of information such as a birthday that you share on your social networking site, a bad guy can use this basic information for an answer to a security question to verify your credit card identity," Mr Nakrob said.
Because so many people now use social network sites at work, threats to corporate IT networks are growing.
While some companies have IT policies that explicitly regulate the use of sites such as Facebook or Twitter, few block employee access to social networking sites because some departments have legitimate needs to use those sites for marketing, sales and customer service.
Mr Nakrob suggested that all companies should set security policies for social networks. For instance, if an employee posts photos or information related to customers on a personal Facebook account, that information could be leaked to rivals or have even worse consequences.
Meanwhile, existing security firewalls are not keeping up with new types of applications, particularly those related to social networks, YouTube or Skype. This is leading to increased demand for next-generation firewalls to use in organisational security.
Some security vendors, including Palo Alto Networks Thailand, are providing next-generation firewalls that allow businesses to set controls on the use of social networking or limit it to authorised employees. For instance, they may allow viewing and replying but not posting video or documents on a wall. This could prevent the posting of inappropriate content that violates the law or risks leaks of trade secrets.
-----
SOCIAL MEDIA ATTACKS
FACEBOOK
Likejacking Cybercriminals create intriguing posts that exploit interest in seasonal events, celebrity news and even disasters.
Users who click the links inadvertently act as accomplices to the attacker because the malicious scripts automatically repost the links, images or videos on their contacts' walls. Popular version of this attack causes user profiles to "Like" a Facebook page without their consent
Rogue applications Cybercriminals use Facebook's open platform to applications for spam posts or phishing attacks
Attacks via chat Facebook's built-in chat feature makes cybercriminals spread malware and to promote phishing applications
TWITTER
Spammed Tweets Cybercriminals create compelling posts with links. Examples include promotions for free vouchers, job advertisements or testimonials for weight-loss products
Malware downloads Most popular tactic is the use of video-related posts, which lead create users to a fake YouTube page where they could download a malicious file
Twitter bots Use of Twitter to manage and control botnet zombies
MY THOUGHTS
This is getting scarier and scarier.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
HOW NOT TO GET HACKED ON FACEBOOK
HOW NOT TO GET HACKED ON FACEBOOK
from the article 'Facebook Users: How Not to Get Hacked'
By Kimberly Weisul | May 10, 2011
There are plenty of things Facebook users, and others, can do to protect their personal information online. Consumer Reports recommends:
Keep tabs on your kids’ accounts. Some kids won’t ‘friend’ their parents, of course, but they just might fork over their user name and password. Other parents can keep up on their children’s online activities via siblings or other friends.
Use privacy controls. Consumer Reports found that one in five adult Facebook users don’t use privacy controls. Whenever Facebook gives you a choice, set the information to be visible only to your friends. Otherwise your profile picture, friends list, activities, and other info can be seen by anyone who does a public search on your name.
Turn off Instant Personalization. Instant personalization shares your location information with sites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor (and the list is growing). The default setting for “instant personalization” is “on,” but you can turn it off.
Be careful with apps. In most cases, you can decide which information an app can see. Facebook says it doesn’t share identifiable information with advertisers, but using an app does make general information available.
Set a PIN number for your phone. Most smartphones allow you to set a four-digit PIN for your phone, but only about 20 percent of people-even those who store sensitive information on their phones-actually do this.
Protect your phone. The PIN is just the start. Many manufacturers offer over-the-air backup, remote phone locating, remote phone locking, and erasing of data and account info. You can also get software to lock your phone or erase data remotely. Turn off the phone’s GPS feature if you don’t need it.
MY THOUGHTS
I never liked the apps.
from the article 'Facebook Users: How Not to Get Hacked'
By Kimberly Weisul | May 10, 2011
There are plenty of things Facebook users, and others, can do to protect their personal information online. Consumer Reports recommends:
Keep tabs on your kids’ accounts. Some kids won’t ‘friend’ their parents, of course, but they just might fork over their user name and password. Other parents can keep up on their children’s online activities via siblings or other friends.
Use privacy controls. Consumer Reports found that one in five adult Facebook users don’t use privacy controls. Whenever Facebook gives you a choice, set the information to be visible only to your friends. Otherwise your profile picture, friends list, activities, and other info can be seen by anyone who does a public search on your name.
Turn off Instant Personalization. Instant personalization shares your location information with sites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor (and the list is growing). The default setting for “instant personalization” is “on,” but you can turn it off.
Be careful with apps. In most cases, you can decide which information an app can see. Facebook says it doesn’t share identifiable information with advertisers, but using an app does make general information available.
Set a PIN number for your phone. Most smartphones allow you to set a four-digit PIN for your phone, but only about 20 percent of people-even those who store sensitive information on their phones-actually do this.
Protect your phone. The PIN is just the start. Many manufacturers offer over-the-air backup, remote phone locating, remote phone locking, and erasing of data and account info. You can also get software to lock your phone or erase data remotely. Turn off the phone’s GPS feature if you don’t need it.
MY THOUGHTS
I never liked the apps.
Monday, April 11, 2011
SOCIAL NETWORKING "FRENEMIES"
Social Networking Leads to "Frenemies" For Women
Author: Ayra Moore
Published: March 31, 2011 at 6:47 pm
So,you hear time and time again how “great” the social network is, right? Well, for some, it is.
A majority of women, however, have become quite disgusted with the “friends” they have collected on Facebook, finding them very bothersome at times.
According to an article posted on Networkworld.com, Eversave, a company dealing in coupons, recently conducted a survey centered on how social networking influences shopping and the use of deals. They got a lot more info than they expected apparently.
Woman, who still admit they communicate more frequently and readily thanks to social networking, are also complaining about their Facebook pals. The women are getting tired of seeing status updates from their newfound “frenemies” regarding personal complaints, praise for their children, grandchildren, political views and bragging about their lives in general.
The result, in my opinion, to these,very amusing, recent findings is simple: No matter what outlet women use to attempt to communicate, we will always find that the company of other women will grow annoying and tiresome if it lasts too long. What is the saying regarding “too much of a good thing”? It may very well do you harm. Women and their “frenemies” should take note.
Read more: http://technorati.com/lifestyle/article/social-networking-leads-to-frenemies-for/#ixzz1INa62MAn
MY THOUGHTS
What bothers me about Facebook is that you are 'friends' with people who are not really your friends. If you are, why would status updates about family annoy you? Why would you consider 'happy news' as 'bragging'? Why won't you want to know more about your 'friend' through their 'political views'?
My biggest question is - why are you on Facebook if things like these annoy you?
Author: Ayra Moore
Published: March 31, 2011 at 6:47 pm
So,you hear time and time again how “great” the social network is, right? Well, for some, it is.
A majority of women, however, have become quite disgusted with the “friends” they have collected on Facebook, finding them very bothersome at times.
According to an article posted on Networkworld.com, Eversave, a company dealing in coupons, recently conducted a survey centered on how social networking influences shopping and the use of deals. They got a lot more info than they expected apparently.
Woman, who still admit they communicate more frequently and readily thanks to social networking, are also complaining about their Facebook pals. The women are getting tired of seeing status updates from their newfound “frenemies” regarding personal complaints, praise for their children, grandchildren, political views and bragging about their lives in general.
The result, in my opinion, to these,very amusing, recent findings is simple: No matter what outlet women use to attempt to communicate, we will always find that the company of other women will grow annoying and tiresome if it lasts too long. What is the saying regarding “too much of a good thing”? It may very well do you harm. Women and their “frenemies” should take note.
Read more: http://technorati.com/lifestyle/article/social-networking-leads-to-frenemies-for/#ixzz1INa62MAn
MY THOUGHTS
What bothers me about Facebook is that you are 'friends' with people who are not really your friends. If you are, why would status updates about family annoy you? Why would you consider 'happy news' as 'bragging'? Why won't you want to know more about your 'friend' through their 'political views'?
My biggest question is - why are you on Facebook if things like these annoy you?
Thursday, April 7, 2011
SOCIAL NETWORKS FOR KIDS
Top 3 Kid-safe Social Networks
By helle Hainer
Every Day Connected
When Rachel Sarah of Oakland, Calif., first heard about Club Penguin, a social networking site for kids, she had no idea what it was. "My daughter kept asking me if she could use it," recalls Sarah. Not sure whether her daughter, who's under 13, was too young to be on the Web, Sarah decided to check it out herself. "There aren't any ads, and the site seems really fun and innocent," says Sarah.
But how can you be sure a site is really what it seems? We’ve done the legwork for you and found the top three social networks for kids. Here’s how they keep kids entertained while making their safety a top priority:
CLUB PENGUIN
Kids are given a penguin avatar that can interact with the other penguins on the site, play games and earn coins to buy accessories for their penguin or furniture for their igloo. Membership is $5.95 per month for premium access, which allows kids to customize their penguins.
Age group: 8 to 14, although older kids can join too. Parents register kids who are under 13.
What kids love: The penguins are simple and cute. Kids can get creative when customizing the look of their penguin and igloo, and meet other penguin friends for coffee or tea.
Privacy and safety features: Parents can choose between the Standard Safe-Chat, which allows kids to type their own chat messages, or Ultimate Safe-Chat, which restricts them to prewritten words or phrases, like "Hello" or "What's up?" "Club Penguin has really strong filters, so you won't need to worry about kids swearing or going crazy," says Anastasia Goodstein, author of Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens Are Really Doing Online.
MY THOUGHTS
I hope moms and dads with kids under 13 would check out these sites.
By helle Hainer
Every Day Connected
When Rachel Sarah of Oakland, Calif., first heard about Club Penguin, a social networking site for kids, she had no idea what it was. "My daughter kept asking me if she could use it," recalls Sarah. Not sure whether her daughter, who's under 13, was too young to be on the Web, Sarah decided to check it out herself. "There aren't any ads, and the site seems really fun and innocent," says Sarah.
But how can you be sure a site is really what it seems? We’ve done the legwork for you and found the top three social networks for kids. Here’s how they keep kids entertained while making their safety a top priority:
CLUB PENGUIN
Kids are given a penguin avatar that can interact with the other penguins on the site, play games and earn coins to buy accessories for their penguin or furniture for their igloo. Membership is $5.95 per month for premium access, which allows kids to customize their penguins.
Age group: 8 to 14, although older kids can join too. Parents register kids who are under 13.
What kids love: The penguins are simple and cute. Kids can get creative when customizing the look of their penguin and igloo, and meet other penguin friends for coffee or tea.
Privacy and safety features: Parents can choose between the Standard Safe-Chat, which allows kids to type their own chat messages, or Ultimate Safe-Chat, which restricts them to prewritten words or phrases, like "Hello" or "What's up?" "Club Penguin has really strong filters, so you won't need to worry about kids swearing or going crazy," says Anastasia Goodstein, author of Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens Are Really Doing Online.
MY THOUGHTS
I hope moms and dads with kids under 13 would check out these sites.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
CAN YOU SAVE THROUGH FACEBOOK?
Can Facebook Help You Spend Less?
How to use social networking to find great fashion and beauty deals
Lynn Strong ON Mar 17, 2011 at 11:52PM
www.ivillage.com
It's wild how social media sites like Facebook have taken over the world, isn't it? Everybody's online these days, and companies everywhere are figuring out how they can use Facebook to promote their businesses and make more money. That makes it high time to follow their lead and start using Facebook to your own advantage to actually save money on what you buy. It can be done!
Now that more and more fashion brands are creating Facebook pages, all you really have to do is “Like” a brand's page and you'll have instant access to special sale alerts, coupon codes, insider deals, and more. You'll also be the first to learn about new products or special store-only events. Liking a page is like gaining access to a special members-only fan club for a particular clothing or beauty line. What could be better?
If you're not convinced, check out a few Facebook promotions I came across this week:
Sample Saturdays: Simply by Liking Nordstrom Beauty's page, you'll be part of Sample Saturdays. Each Friday one product sample is revealed and the sample is available in the cosmetics and fragrance departments in all Nordstrom stores the following day, exclusive to Facebook (and Twitter) followers.
Drugstore.com: I was surprised to learn that Drugstore.com is on Facebook offering specials to shoppers -- everything from free shipping (no matter how much you ordered) to discounts on gift cards and more -- just for Liking the page.
For Shoe Lovers: You'll also have access to flash sales and limited-time-only offers. Via Spiga (amazing shoes!), which posts different contests and deals on Facebook frequently, this week posted a special spring sale coupon code for 20 percent off all purchases. Only Facebook fans got the memo!
It takes just a few seconds to find your favorite brands on Facebook and become a fan of their pages -- and the savings will really add up. Give it a try!
MY THOUGHTS
Worth a try? Maybe. Maybe not. What have you got to lose?
How to use social networking to find great fashion and beauty deals
Lynn Strong ON Mar 17, 2011 at 11:52PM
www.ivillage.com
It's wild how social media sites like Facebook have taken over the world, isn't it? Everybody's online these days, and companies everywhere are figuring out how they can use Facebook to promote their businesses and make more money. That makes it high time to follow their lead and start using Facebook to your own advantage to actually save money on what you buy. It can be done!
Now that more and more fashion brands are creating Facebook pages, all you really have to do is “Like” a brand's page and you'll have instant access to special sale alerts, coupon codes, insider deals, and more. You'll also be the first to learn about new products or special store-only events. Liking a page is like gaining access to a special members-only fan club for a particular clothing or beauty line. What could be better?
If you're not convinced, check out a few Facebook promotions I came across this week:
Sample Saturdays: Simply by Liking Nordstrom Beauty's page, you'll be part of Sample Saturdays. Each Friday one product sample is revealed and the sample is available in the cosmetics and fragrance departments in all Nordstrom stores the following day, exclusive to Facebook (and Twitter) followers.
Drugstore.com: I was surprised to learn that Drugstore.com is on Facebook offering specials to shoppers -- everything from free shipping (no matter how much you ordered) to discounts on gift cards and more -- just for Liking the page.
For Shoe Lovers: You'll also have access to flash sales and limited-time-only offers. Via Spiga (amazing shoes!), which posts different contests and deals on Facebook frequently, this week posted a special spring sale coupon code for 20 percent off all purchases. Only Facebook fans got the memo!
It takes just a few seconds to find your favorite brands on Facebook and become a fan of their pages -- and the savings will really add up. Give it a try!
MY THOUGHTS
Worth a try? Maybe. Maybe not. What have you got to lose?
Sunday, February 27, 2011
FACEBOOK AT WORK
Facebook and the Law: The NLRB Got It Right
By Suzanne Lucas | February 10, 2011
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a press release about the much talked about Facebook Case. The press release states:
Under the terms of the settlement approved today by Hartford Regional Director Jonathan Kreisberg, the company agreed to revise its overly-broad rules to ensure that they do not improperly restrict employees from discussing their wages, hours and working conditions with co-workers and others while not at work, and that they would not discipline or discharge employees for engaging in such discussions. (Emphasis is mine.)
You know what this is? Nothing new and nothing exciting. This is right in line with previous decisions regarding the rights of employee to talk about their salaries, hours and working conditions. It makes perfect sense to consider Facebook and other social media as talking. Because that is precisely what it is.
Now, this does not mean that the internet becomes a free-for-all. If you could be fired for talking about it before, you can still be fired now for posting about it. (And remember this is a union case, and doesn’t necessarily apply to the majority of American workers.)
This will not be the last we hear of Facebook and the law. Other Facebook related cases are pending. You would be smart to be cautious about what you say and post on the internet, because unless you are saying something that is explicitly protected, your boss can still fire you.
UPDATE: I got an e-mail from Nancy Cleeland, NLRB’s Director of Public Affairs. She gave me permission to post her e-mail for further clarification:
Thanks for your post on the Facebook settlement, which someone just forwarded to me. I just wanted to point out that even though the employee was represented by a union, our concerns related to the company’s social media policies and her postings were not union-related and would apply to any private-sector workplace that is under the NLRB’s jurisdiction.
So, this is farther reaching than I originally said. I’ll be keeping my eye on any Facebook (and other social media) cases, and now I have a contact at the NLRB.
MY THOUGHTS
this is not local news and i have not heard of any local case like this one. but i'm pretty sure this subject has caused companies (and individuals) headaches. a lot of people are not mature enough to handle the freedom.
i had a short project with a company whose employees are spending so much time on FB and youtube and all those internet sites. we had to hire someone to block certain sites. of course it caused some uproar. and i did not totally agree with the way it was handled. but it had to be done.
i think companies should immediately draw up internal policies on social networking while at work. don't wait for it to fester. and come-up with some way for people to still do social networking during break time. a kiosk would work.
By Suzanne Lucas | February 10, 2011
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a press release about the much talked about Facebook Case. The press release states:
Under the terms of the settlement approved today by Hartford Regional Director Jonathan Kreisberg, the company agreed to revise its overly-broad rules to ensure that they do not improperly restrict employees from discussing their wages, hours and working conditions with co-workers and others while not at work, and that they would not discipline or discharge employees for engaging in such discussions. (Emphasis is mine.)
You know what this is? Nothing new and nothing exciting. This is right in line with previous decisions regarding the rights of employee to talk about their salaries, hours and working conditions. It makes perfect sense to consider Facebook and other social media as talking. Because that is precisely what it is.
Now, this does not mean that the internet becomes a free-for-all. If you could be fired for talking about it before, you can still be fired now for posting about it. (And remember this is a union case, and doesn’t necessarily apply to the majority of American workers.)
This will not be the last we hear of Facebook and the law. Other Facebook related cases are pending. You would be smart to be cautious about what you say and post on the internet, because unless you are saying something that is explicitly protected, your boss can still fire you.
UPDATE: I got an e-mail from Nancy Cleeland, NLRB’s Director of Public Affairs. She gave me permission to post her e-mail for further clarification:
Thanks for your post on the Facebook settlement, which someone just forwarded to me. I just wanted to point out that even though the employee was represented by a union, our concerns related to the company’s social media policies and her postings were not union-related and would apply to any private-sector workplace that is under the NLRB’s jurisdiction.
So, this is farther reaching than I originally said. I’ll be keeping my eye on any Facebook (and other social media) cases, and now I have a contact at the NLRB.
MY THOUGHTS
this is not local news and i have not heard of any local case like this one. but i'm pretty sure this subject has caused companies (and individuals) headaches. a lot of people are not mature enough to handle the freedom.
i had a short project with a company whose employees are spending so much time on FB and youtube and all those internet sites. we had to hire someone to block certain sites. of course it caused some uproar. and i did not totally agree with the way it was handled. but it had to be done.
i think companies should immediately draw up internal policies on social networking while at work. don't wait for it to fester. and come-up with some way for people to still do social networking during break time. a kiosk would work.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES FOR PARENTS
Social Networks For Parents: Some of the best
January 21, 2011 | Debbie Turner
The world of social networking is increasingly commonplace and although it has great benefits it’s fair to say some negative points have also been made. For example recently we were told how it’s now natural for many parents and their teens to extend their relationship on Facebook and it can be a valuable line of communication.
Earlier today though, we also told of a Facebook scam that targets children. As a parent, it can sometimes seem like a minefield to negotiate the right path to bring up our children but online resources can be extremely useful and there are some great social networks, specifically for parents. Sarah Kessler over on Mashable has been doing some research into parenting social networks and has 6 suggestions of valuable sites.
It’s fair to say that no matter how good the advice, a good site should also have an active community and Cafémom received particular praise for this. Users can make journal entries and blog posts and the discussion isn’t always based around parenting but forums cover other topics too. You can also introduce yourself to other moms and of course find the usual advice on potty training, relationships, baby names and much, much more.
For those who wonder where the parenting sites are that don’t revolve around moms you might like Minti, which has a vast amount of information but not so much in the way of an active community. However there’s plenty of archived advice from other parents and users are encouraged to write blog posts. Take a look at the Mashable link above to see all the other ideas suggested.
You may also be interested in an article on The Merrimack Journal by Wendy Thomas that tells of one parent group that uses Facebook as a tool to provide local parents with information, advice and resources in an attempt to assist them to be a positive influence for their kids.
Have you tried any of the Mashable suggestions for social networks for parents or have you any others that you’d like to suggest to our readers? Why not send us your comments to let us know.
MY THOUGHTS
moms, check out the Cafemom site. don't bother about Minti. not available in our country.
January 21, 2011 | Debbie Turner
The world of social networking is increasingly commonplace and although it has great benefits it’s fair to say some negative points have also been made. For example recently we were told how it’s now natural for many parents and their teens to extend their relationship on Facebook and it can be a valuable line of communication.
Earlier today though, we also told of a Facebook scam that targets children. As a parent, it can sometimes seem like a minefield to negotiate the right path to bring up our children but online resources can be extremely useful and there are some great social networks, specifically for parents. Sarah Kessler over on Mashable has been doing some research into parenting social networks and has 6 suggestions of valuable sites.
It’s fair to say that no matter how good the advice, a good site should also have an active community and Cafémom received particular praise for this. Users can make journal entries and blog posts and the discussion isn’t always based around parenting but forums cover other topics too. You can also introduce yourself to other moms and of course find the usual advice on potty training, relationships, baby names and much, much more.
For those who wonder where the parenting sites are that don’t revolve around moms you might like Minti, which has a vast amount of information but not so much in the way of an active community. However there’s plenty of archived advice from other parents and users are encouraged to write blog posts. Take a look at the Mashable link above to see all the other ideas suggested.
You may also be interested in an article on The Merrimack Journal by Wendy Thomas that tells of one parent group that uses Facebook as a tool to provide local parents with information, advice and resources in an attempt to assist them to be a positive influence for their kids.
Have you tried any of the Mashable suggestions for social networks for parents or have you any others that you’d like to suggest to our readers? Why not send us your comments to let us know.
MY THOUGHTS
moms, check out the Cafemom site. don't bother about Minti. not available in our country.
Monday, February 7, 2011
HOW SECURED IS FACEBOOK
Facebook defends security strategy
Shy social network responds to criticism
By John Leyden • Get more from this author
Posted in Malware, 21st January 2011 16:01 GMT
Analysis Facebook has defended its record in thwarting rogue applications and other security in the face of criticism from security firms that it ought to adopt tighter application controls.
The dominant social network disputes findings from a threat report by UK-based net security firm Sophos, released earlier this week, that spam, malware and other attacks have become more effective against Facebook users over the last year.
Facebook reckons the opposite is true while disputing the methodology adopted by Sophos which it said looked, for example, at the volume of spam sent to Facebook users instead of the volume that reached their in-boxes.
Facebook said: "If your spam filter catches all the spam, does it matter that your filter caught 10 per cent more?"
The social networking site reckons less than three per cent of communications on Facebook are spam, compared to industry estimates that email spam makes up 90 per cent of all electronic messages. The implication is that Sophos is focusing on the wrong problem.
Unfriending rogues
Survey scams have become an almost daily occurrence on Facebook over recent months. Typically they use the lure of an application that a potential victim's friend has been tricked into installing, such as a 'Dislike' button or a link to shocking (invariably bogus) news about a celebrity.
Instead of getting the promised content, victims are invited to navigate their way through a thicket of time-wasting surveys. Scammers earn a kick-back for each victim as affiliates of unethical marketing firms.
More ambitious (and lucrative) scams attempt to trick victims into supplying their mobile number, before signing up to a premium rate text messaging service of questionable utility.
The scams take advantage of human stupidity rather than web security vulnerabilities. Both Sophos and Facebook agree that user education is part of the solution, but the two are split on whether Facebook itself could do more to tighten up its controls on how applications are released onto its platform.
In a statement responding to Sophos' report, Facebook said it has plenty of controls already that limit access to information.
We have built extensive controls into the product, so that now when you add an application it only gets access to very limited data and the user must approve each additional type of data (so we do more than anyone else to educate users about passage of data, and force disclosure and user consent for each category beyond the basics).
We have a dedicated team that does robust review of all third party applications, using a risk based approach. So, that means that we first look at velocity/number of users/types of data shared, and prioritise. This ensures that the team is focused on addressing the biggest risks, rather than just doing a cursory review at the time that an app is first launched.
We make sure that we act swiftly to remove/sanction potentially bad applications before they gain access to data, and involve law enforcement and file civil actions if there is a problem.
Down with this sort of thing
Facebook said it is constantly improving the level of account protection offered to users, citing its introduction of one-time passwords back in October 2010, a development designed to make it safer for users to use public computers to access the service.
The social network goes on to list its user education programmes, which are geared to improving the security awareness levels of users.
These initiatives include updating the 3.6 million people who have liked the Facebook Security Page, hundreds of thousands of which have taken our "Stop. Think. Connect." quiz on the Page, which we developed with National Cyber Security Alliance and the Anti-Phishing Working Group; as well as the education we do through the product, for example, when we detect that an account is compromised by phishing or malware, we put the owner through a remediation/education process that includes a free McAfee virus scan.
When a person clicks on a link that we can't verify, or that we think might be suspicious, we pop an interstitial warning.
We put these points to Sophos, which said it stood by the main findings of its original report, and argued that the social network could and should do more to improve the security of its users.
"I definitely feel that Facebook could be doing more to both better secure their users, and to ensure that privacy is treated as a higher priority," Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, told El Reg.
Facebook may talk a good game but a quick search (viewable only if logged into Facebook and safe providing you don't click on the links) shows hundreds of victims have installed a rogue app that falsely promises the ability to "see who has viewed your profile".
Facebook ought to have someone searching for such scams and stamping them out, something that isn't happening as yet. "Often I see these scams spreading for days on end, with no obvious action taken by Facebook," Cluley said.
Careful now
According to Sophos, the social network could employ a round-the-clock security response team. Some have suggested Apple-style pre-approval of apps would drastically reduce, if not eliminate, the volume of crud circulating on Facebook. However, Cluley said such an approach was hard to apply to Facebook's platform.
"Pre-approval of apps is tricky, because they are web-based and contain content that is not hosted on Facebook's own servers," Cluley explained. "In other words, the bad guys could change it any time - turning a good app into a rogue one."
What might work better is some form of white-listing or restricting the ability to access sensitive data to already trusted developers, Cluley explained.
"Each app could be submitted for profiling to Facebook, who would create a matrix of what data it requested to access from the user, and which webpages it uses content from. If these changed at any point then the app would no longer be approved, and be sent back to Facebook's sinbin team for checking.
"Better than that would be for Facebook to only allow apps that came from approved developers to access sensitive information or post to users' walls."
Cluley said Facebook introduced an optional app verification program in November 2008, only to quietly kill it off a year later.
Facebook ought to consider reviving the program, said Cluley. "If developers had to pay to become official developers for the Facebook platform, and if not being an official developer meant you weren't able to hit Facebook users, then we'd see an instant dramatic drop in the attacks."
Sophos suggested that Facebook ought to be more proactive in using its security page as an early warning system on scams, as part of a broader program targeted at curtailing rogue apps and other security threats.
"There's a sliding scale of things that Facebook could do to counter the problem of rogue apps - ranging from faster response to stricter conditions about who and who can't write Facebook applications," Cluley concluded. "What's clear is that their current approach isn't working." ®
MY THOUGHTS
we have a choice, as always. if we're so heated up about our security and privacy there are, at least, 2 things we can do. one is to stop using facebook altogether.or be a responsible user.
Shy social network responds to criticism
By John Leyden • Get more from this author
Posted in Malware, 21st January 2011 16:01 GMT
Analysis Facebook has defended its record in thwarting rogue applications and other security in the face of criticism from security firms that it ought to adopt tighter application controls.
The dominant social network disputes findings from a threat report by UK-based net security firm Sophos, released earlier this week, that spam, malware and other attacks have become more effective against Facebook users over the last year.
Facebook reckons the opposite is true while disputing the methodology adopted by Sophos which it said looked, for example, at the volume of spam sent to Facebook users instead of the volume that reached their in-boxes.
Facebook said: "If your spam filter catches all the spam, does it matter that your filter caught 10 per cent more?"
The social networking site reckons less than three per cent of communications on Facebook are spam, compared to industry estimates that email spam makes up 90 per cent of all electronic messages. The implication is that Sophos is focusing on the wrong problem.
Unfriending rogues
Survey scams have become an almost daily occurrence on Facebook over recent months. Typically they use the lure of an application that a potential victim's friend has been tricked into installing, such as a 'Dislike' button or a link to shocking (invariably bogus) news about a celebrity.
Instead of getting the promised content, victims are invited to navigate their way through a thicket of time-wasting surveys. Scammers earn a kick-back for each victim as affiliates of unethical marketing firms.
More ambitious (and lucrative) scams attempt to trick victims into supplying their mobile number, before signing up to a premium rate text messaging service of questionable utility.
The scams take advantage of human stupidity rather than web security vulnerabilities. Both Sophos and Facebook agree that user education is part of the solution, but the two are split on whether Facebook itself could do more to tighten up its controls on how applications are released onto its platform.
In a statement responding to Sophos' report, Facebook said it has plenty of controls already that limit access to information.
We have built extensive controls into the product, so that now when you add an application it only gets access to very limited data and the user must approve each additional type of data (so we do more than anyone else to educate users about passage of data, and force disclosure and user consent for each category beyond the basics).
We have a dedicated team that does robust review of all third party applications, using a risk based approach. So, that means that we first look at velocity/number of users/types of data shared, and prioritise. This ensures that the team is focused on addressing the biggest risks, rather than just doing a cursory review at the time that an app is first launched.
We make sure that we act swiftly to remove/sanction potentially bad applications before they gain access to data, and involve law enforcement and file civil actions if there is a problem.
Down with this sort of thing
Facebook said it is constantly improving the level of account protection offered to users, citing its introduction of one-time passwords back in October 2010, a development designed to make it safer for users to use public computers to access the service.
The social network goes on to list its user education programmes, which are geared to improving the security awareness levels of users.
These initiatives include updating the 3.6 million people who have liked the Facebook Security Page, hundreds of thousands of which have taken our "Stop. Think. Connect." quiz on the Page, which we developed with National Cyber Security Alliance and the Anti-Phishing Working Group; as well as the education we do through the product, for example, when we detect that an account is compromised by phishing or malware, we put the owner through a remediation/education process that includes a free McAfee virus scan.
When a person clicks on a link that we can't verify, or that we think might be suspicious, we pop an interstitial warning.
We put these points to Sophos, which said it stood by the main findings of its original report, and argued that the social network could and should do more to improve the security of its users.
"I definitely feel that Facebook could be doing more to both better secure their users, and to ensure that privacy is treated as a higher priority," Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, told El Reg.
Facebook may talk a good game but a quick search (viewable only if logged into Facebook and safe providing you don't click on the links) shows hundreds of victims have installed a rogue app that falsely promises the ability to "see who has viewed your profile".
Facebook ought to have someone searching for such scams and stamping them out, something that isn't happening as yet. "Often I see these scams spreading for days on end, with no obvious action taken by Facebook," Cluley said.
Careful now
According to Sophos, the social network could employ a round-the-clock security response team. Some have suggested Apple-style pre-approval of apps would drastically reduce, if not eliminate, the volume of crud circulating on Facebook. However, Cluley said such an approach was hard to apply to Facebook's platform.
"Pre-approval of apps is tricky, because they are web-based and contain content that is not hosted on Facebook's own servers," Cluley explained. "In other words, the bad guys could change it any time - turning a good app into a rogue one."
What might work better is some form of white-listing or restricting the ability to access sensitive data to already trusted developers, Cluley explained.
"Each app could be submitted for profiling to Facebook, who would create a matrix of what data it requested to access from the user, and which webpages it uses content from. If these changed at any point then the app would no longer be approved, and be sent back to Facebook's sinbin team for checking.
"Better than that would be for Facebook to only allow apps that came from approved developers to access sensitive information or post to users' walls."
Cluley said Facebook introduced an optional app verification program in November 2008, only to quietly kill it off a year later.
Facebook ought to consider reviving the program, said Cluley. "If developers had to pay to become official developers for the Facebook platform, and if not being an official developer meant you weren't able to hit Facebook users, then we'd see an instant dramatic drop in the attacks."
Sophos suggested that Facebook ought to be more proactive in using its security page as an early warning system on scams, as part of a broader program targeted at curtailing rogue apps and other security threats.
"There's a sliding scale of things that Facebook could do to counter the problem of rogue apps - ranging from faster response to stricter conditions about who and who can't write Facebook applications," Cluley concluded. "What's clear is that their current approach isn't working." ®
MY THOUGHTS
we have a choice, as always. if we're so heated up about our security and privacy there are, at least, 2 things we can do. one is to stop using facebook altogether.or be a responsible user.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
WILL YOU BLAME SOCIAL NETWORKING?
blame social networking
By Loretta Park
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
Last updated
Saturday, January 22, 2011 - 8:26pm
http://www.standard.net/topics/schools/2011/01/22/school-fights-more-violent-some-blame-social-networking
School officials and police officers are concerned that fights in schools are becoming more aggressive and violent, and they believe e-mail, texts and social networking are at the root of that escalation.
Suzanne Buchanne, director of the at-risk population with Davis School District, said, "I'm seeing more assertive/aggressive behavior."
Although she could not pinpoint a specific reason why, Buchanne thinks e-mail, texts and social networking are playing a huge role.
In the past, when several students were mad at each other, they would go to class or go home and time would allow tempers and feelings to cool down, she said.
Now, students text and e-mail each other, as well as post remarks on social networking sites, such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace, Buchanne said.
"Now, I've got all my buddies involved; and it's not just boys doing this either," she said.
Recently, an incident erupted at a Davis County high school in which social networking was believed to have played a role. A 19-year-old is still in an area hospital with a brain injury following the fight at Viewmont High School.
"He has a significant head injury," said Bountiful Police Chief Tom Ross.
Ross said the fight that landed Spencer Spilman in a hospital happened on Jan. 10 in the school's parking lot during school hours.
"Fights are not so shocking," Ross said. "But what is (shocking) is how quickly, in a short period of time, we had kids gathered in one place for a fight."
He blames social media and texting.
Students from Woods Cross and Bountiful high schools have been implicated in the fight.
News of fight
News that a fight would be taking place traveled in a matter of seconds, bringing students from neighboring cities to the parking lot, officials said. Police spent the next 48 hours, working overtime, investigating how many students were involved.
Three juveniles are facing aggravated assault charges, which in an adult court could be a second-degree felony. Also, at least six more students could be charged with misdemeanor offenses, such as disorderly conduct or fighting, Ross said.
But the aggressiveness and intensity of that fight, as well as another one earlier in January after a basketball game between Viewmont and Davis high schools, has officials concerned.
Consequences
Parents need to talk to their teenagers about the consequences of getting involved in fights, Buchanne said. It's not just bruises or black eyes, that will heal in a few days.
Instead, a student can find herself/himself without a school to attend, she said.
"They just don't think what the long-term consequences are," Buchanne said.
Students involved in fighting, as well as bringing weapons to a school, can be expelled for up to a year. If the incident is serious enough, the student could be expelled from every school in Davis School District, Buchanne said.
"And other districts can uphold that expulsion," Buchanne said. "I don't think people realize that. We don't have to offer them any services."
Principal Chris Keime at Fairfield Junior High School in Kaysville said students are taught at the beginning of the year how to deal with conflicts maturely and what the district's safe school policy is.
But social networks and electronics are making it difficult for students to deal with disagreements, he said.
"It's hard for kids, especially when their honor has been hurt," Keime said.
But at least statistically, kids might be getting the message.
Overall, fights or violent acts in schools are not increasing, but instead decreasing, not only in Davis School District, but statewide and nationally.
Decreases
According to a 2010 Bureau of Justice Statistics report, in 2003, 9.2 percent of ninth-grade to 12th-grade students, nationwide, reported being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property. In 2007, that percentage decreased to 7.8 and decreased again in 2009 to 7.7 percent.
In Utah, 7.3 percent of ninth-grade to 12th-grade students in 2003 reported being injured or threatened with a weapon on school property, according to the report. In 2007, that percentage increased to 11.4, but then dropped in 2009 to 7.7 percent.
Some of that decrease statistically could be attributed to the programs schools are putting in place.
Parents at North Layton Junior High volunteer to patrol the hallways during the lunch hour, which helps keep the peace, said Assistant Principal James Gordon.
Students are also told if there is a conflict or they feel afraid, they can find an adult -- a teacher or administrator -- who can help them get through the conflict.
Conflict resolution
Overall, most students are good kids; but several weeks ago friction between two North Layton students escalated due to social networking and texting, and there was a fight, he said.
Gordon said parents should teach their children how to resolve conflicts without using technology. One way is to use appropriate behavior when they disagree with someone else.
He said teenagers are very much aware of current events and see how adults handle disagreements.
"They can see there are very clear disagreements between Democrats and Republicans," Gordon said. "I agree with President (Barack) Obama that we should sit down at the table and talk about disagreements and what is the actual conflict."
Also, parents need to know what students are watching, not only on TV, but what they are seeing on the computer, what they are reading in books and who they are communicating with, Gordon said.
"I really feel technology is fast outpacing our students' judgement and they're dealing with adult issues," Gordon said.
Technology allows anyone, including teenagers, to hide behind a screen and become a different person, he said.
"What is written shocks not only the parents, but me," said Gordon, who has been an educator for 17 years.
MY THOUGHTS
i wonder if the same is happening here. and i really don't think we should blame social networking sites. we cannot stop the world from evolving. and we should not stop trying to cope with these changes called 'development'.
i know, it's a lot simpler for moms and dads and teachers when technology was not this advanced. you tell your kid he/she is grounded and that's it. nowadays, you tell them they are grounded and you confiscate the computer and the cellphone,too.
this is why strong values have to be inculcated. at home and in school. strong values that are not just taught but exemplified. values that will arm us and the kids against the evils of technology.
come to think of it, technology is not evil. we are the ones who make it so.
By Loretta Park
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
Last updated
Saturday, January 22, 2011 - 8:26pm
http://www.standard.net/topics/schools/2011/01/22/school-fights-more-violent-some-blame-social-networking
School officials and police officers are concerned that fights in schools are becoming more aggressive and violent, and they believe e-mail, texts and social networking are at the root of that escalation.
Suzanne Buchanne, director of the at-risk population with Davis School District, said, "I'm seeing more assertive/aggressive behavior."
Although she could not pinpoint a specific reason why, Buchanne thinks e-mail, texts and social networking are playing a huge role.
In the past, when several students were mad at each other, they would go to class or go home and time would allow tempers and feelings to cool down, she said.
Now, students text and e-mail each other, as well as post remarks on social networking sites, such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace, Buchanne said.
"Now, I've got all my buddies involved; and it's not just boys doing this either," she said.
Recently, an incident erupted at a Davis County high school in which social networking was believed to have played a role. A 19-year-old is still in an area hospital with a brain injury following the fight at Viewmont High School.
"He has a significant head injury," said Bountiful Police Chief Tom Ross.
Ross said the fight that landed Spencer Spilman in a hospital happened on Jan. 10 in the school's parking lot during school hours.
"Fights are not so shocking," Ross said. "But what is (shocking) is how quickly, in a short period of time, we had kids gathered in one place for a fight."
He blames social media and texting.
Students from Woods Cross and Bountiful high schools have been implicated in the fight.
News of fight
News that a fight would be taking place traveled in a matter of seconds, bringing students from neighboring cities to the parking lot, officials said. Police spent the next 48 hours, working overtime, investigating how many students were involved.
Three juveniles are facing aggravated assault charges, which in an adult court could be a second-degree felony. Also, at least six more students could be charged with misdemeanor offenses, such as disorderly conduct or fighting, Ross said.
But the aggressiveness and intensity of that fight, as well as another one earlier in January after a basketball game between Viewmont and Davis high schools, has officials concerned.
Consequences
Parents need to talk to their teenagers about the consequences of getting involved in fights, Buchanne said. It's not just bruises or black eyes, that will heal in a few days.
Instead, a student can find herself/himself without a school to attend, she said.
"They just don't think what the long-term consequences are," Buchanne said.
Students involved in fighting, as well as bringing weapons to a school, can be expelled for up to a year. If the incident is serious enough, the student could be expelled from every school in Davis School District, Buchanne said.
"And other districts can uphold that expulsion," Buchanne said. "I don't think people realize that. We don't have to offer them any services."
Principal Chris Keime at Fairfield Junior High School in Kaysville said students are taught at the beginning of the year how to deal with conflicts maturely and what the district's safe school policy is.
But social networks and electronics are making it difficult for students to deal with disagreements, he said.
"It's hard for kids, especially when their honor has been hurt," Keime said.
But at least statistically, kids might be getting the message.
Overall, fights or violent acts in schools are not increasing, but instead decreasing, not only in Davis School District, but statewide and nationally.
Decreases
According to a 2010 Bureau of Justice Statistics report, in 2003, 9.2 percent of ninth-grade to 12th-grade students, nationwide, reported being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property. In 2007, that percentage decreased to 7.8 and decreased again in 2009 to 7.7 percent.
In Utah, 7.3 percent of ninth-grade to 12th-grade students in 2003 reported being injured or threatened with a weapon on school property, according to the report. In 2007, that percentage increased to 11.4, but then dropped in 2009 to 7.7 percent.
Some of that decrease statistically could be attributed to the programs schools are putting in place.
Parents at North Layton Junior High volunteer to patrol the hallways during the lunch hour, which helps keep the peace, said Assistant Principal James Gordon.
Students are also told if there is a conflict or they feel afraid, they can find an adult -- a teacher or administrator -- who can help them get through the conflict.
Conflict resolution
Overall, most students are good kids; but several weeks ago friction between two North Layton students escalated due to social networking and texting, and there was a fight, he said.
Gordon said parents should teach their children how to resolve conflicts without using technology. One way is to use appropriate behavior when they disagree with someone else.
He said teenagers are very much aware of current events and see how adults handle disagreements.
"They can see there are very clear disagreements between Democrats and Republicans," Gordon said. "I agree with President (Barack) Obama that we should sit down at the table and talk about disagreements and what is the actual conflict."
Also, parents need to know what students are watching, not only on TV, but what they are seeing on the computer, what they are reading in books and who they are communicating with, Gordon said.
"I really feel technology is fast outpacing our students' judgement and they're dealing with adult issues," Gordon said.
Technology allows anyone, including teenagers, to hide behind a screen and become a different person, he said.
"What is written shocks not only the parents, but me," said Gordon, who has been an educator for 17 years.
MY THOUGHTS
i wonder if the same is happening here. and i really don't think we should blame social networking sites. we cannot stop the world from evolving. and we should not stop trying to cope with these changes called 'development'.
i know, it's a lot simpler for moms and dads and teachers when technology was not this advanced. you tell your kid he/she is grounded and that's it. nowadays, you tell them they are grounded and you confiscate the computer and the cellphone,too.
this is why strong values have to be inculcated. at home and in school. strong values that are not just taught but exemplified. values that will arm us and the kids against the evils of technology.
come to think of it, technology is not evil. we are the ones who make it so.
NEW LAW IN GERMANY TO STOP CHECKING FACEBOOK
New Law to Stop Companies from Checking Facebook Pages in Germany
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,713240,00.html
Good news for jobseekers who like to brag about their drinking exploits on Facebook: A new law in Germany will stop bosses from checking out potential hires on social networking sites. They will, however, still be allowed to google applicants.
Lying about qualifications. Alcohol and drug use. Racist comments. These are just some of the reasons why potential bosses reject job applicants after looking at their Facebook profiles.
According to a 2009 survey commissioned by the website CareerBuilder, some 45 percent of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates. And some 35 percent of those employers had rejected candidates based on what they found there, such as inappropriate photos, insulting comments about previous employers or boasts about their drug use.
But those Facebook users hoping to apply for a job in Germany should pause for a moment before they hit the "deactivate account" button. The government has drafted a new law which will prevent employers from looking at a job applicant's pages on social networking sites during the hiring process.
According to reports in the Monday editions of the Die Welt and Süddeutsche Zeitung newspapers, Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière has drafted a new law on data privacy for employees which will radically restrict the information bosses can legally collect. The draft law, which is the result of months of negotiations between the different parties in Germany's coalition government, is set to be approved by the German cabinet on Wednesday, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Although the new law will reportedly prevent potential bosses from checking out a candidate's Facebook page, it will allow them to look at sites that are expressly intended to help people sell themselves to future employers, such as the business-oriented social networking site LinkedIn. Information about the candidate that is generally available on the Internet is also fair game. In other words, employers are allowed to google potential hires. Companies may not be allowed to use information if it is too old or if the candidate has no control over it, however.
Toilets to Be Off-Limits
The draft legislation also covers the issue of companies spying on employees. According to Die Welt, the law will expressly forbid firms from video surveillance of workers in "personal" locations such as bathrooms, changing rooms and break rooms. Video cameras will only be permitted in certain places where they are justified, such as entrance areas, and staff will have to be made aware of their presence.
Similarly, companies will only be able to monitor employees' telephone calls and e-mails under certain conditions, and firms will be obliged to inform their staff about such eavesdropping.
The new law is partially a reaction to a number of recent scandals in Germany involving management spying on staff. In 2008, it was revealed that the discount retail chain Lidl had spied on employees in the toilet and had collected information on their private lives. National railway Deutsche Bahn and telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom were also involved in cases relating to surveillance of workers.
Online data privacy is increasingly becoming a hot-button issue in Germany. The government is currently also working on legislation to deal with issues relating to Google's Street View service, which is highly controversial in the country because of concerns it could violate individuals' privacy.
dgs
MY THOUGHTS
i think the best way to deal with privacy is to keep it. zip it. the less private matters you share, the more privacy you keep. it pays to be discreet and discriminating when sharing. especially about your woes about other people. go ahead and share the fun times, the good things. the not-so-good should be kept private. i should remind myself. all the time.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,713240,00.html
Good news for jobseekers who like to brag about their drinking exploits on Facebook: A new law in Germany will stop bosses from checking out potential hires on social networking sites. They will, however, still be allowed to google applicants.
Lying about qualifications. Alcohol and drug use. Racist comments. These are just some of the reasons why potential bosses reject job applicants after looking at their Facebook profiles.
According to a 2009 survey commissioned by the website CareerBuilder, some 45 percent of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates. And some 35 percent of those employers had rejected candidates based on what they found there, such as inappropriate photos, insulting comments about previous employers or boasts about their drug use.
But those Facebook users hoping to apply for a job in Germany should pause for a moment before they hit the "deactivate account" button. The government has drafted a new law which will prevent employers from looking at a job applicant's pages on social networking sites during the hiring process.
According to reports in the Monday editions of the Die Welt and Süddeutsche Zeitung newspapers, Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière has drafted a new law on data privacy for employees which will radically restrict the information bosses can legally collect. The draft law, which is the result of months of negotiations between the different parties in Germany's coalition government, is set to be approved by the German cabinet on Wednesday, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Although the new law will reportedly prevent potential bosses from checking out a candidate's Facebook page, it will allow them to look at sites that are expressly intended to help people sell themselves to future employers, such as the business-oriented social networking site LinkedIn. Information about the candidate that is generally available on the Internet is also fair game. In other words, employers are allowed to google potential hires. Companies may not be allowed to use information if it is too old or if the candidate has no control over it, however.
Toilets to Be Off-Limits
The draft legislation also covers the issue of companies spying on employees. According to Die Welt, the law will expressly forbid firms from video surveillance of workers in "personal" locations such as bathrooms, changing rooms and break rooms. Video cameras will only be permitted in certain places where they are justified, such as entrance areas, and staff will have to be made aware of their presence.
Similarly, companies will only be able to monitor employees' telephone calls and e-mails under certain conditions, and firms will be obliged to inform their staff about such eavesdropping.
The new law is partially a reaction to a number of recent scandals in Germany involving management spying on staff. In 2008, it was revealed that the discount retail chain Lidl had spied on employees in the toilet and had collected information on their private lives. National railway Deutsche Bahn and telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom were also involved in cases relating to surveillance of workers.
Online data privacy is increasingly becoming a hot-button issue in Germany. The government is currently also working on legislation to deal with issues relating to Google's Street View service, which is highly controversial in the country because of concerns it could violate individuals' privacy.
dgs
MY THOUGHTS
i think the best way to deal with privacy is to keep it. zip it. the less private matters you share, the more privacy you keep. it pays to be discreet and discriminating when sharing. especially about your woes about other people. go ahead and share the fun times, the good things. the not-so-good should be kept private. i should remind myself. all the time.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
DON'T GET FIRED BECAUSE OF FACEBOOK
Yes, You Should Be Fired For That Facebook Post. (No Matter What the Feds Say Next Week)
By Suzanne Lucas | January 21, 2011
Facebook is a tool used by teenagers to torment each other and for adults to complain about their bosses, right? Except that your rude commment about your boss or your coworker, or your inapproriate comments about stupid stuff you did could land you on the curb.
Right now the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is preparing to hear a case where an employee was fired after criticizing her boss on Facebook. (Jon Hyman has a round up of information on this union firing.) But, the NLRB deals largely (although not exclusively) with union employees, who are definitely not “at will” employees, but are under contract.
I still think you should be careful.
I hear the screeching about free speech right now. Well, yes, you have the right to free speech, but I also believe that companies should have the right to terminate people who use that speech to denigrate the company. Free speech, not free from consequences speech. (And remember, it’s only government suppression of speech that is illegal.) Most employees in the United States are at will employees, which means that there is no contract of employment and either party can end it for any or no reason, as long as the reason isn’t an illegal one. For instance, you can’t fire an employee because she’s pregnant, but you can fire a pregnant employee, as long as the pregnancy isn’t the reason.
So, why am I in favor of companies being able to terminate an employee for online behavior? (These things, of course, aren’t limited to Facebook. Myspace, Twitter, and blogs are all good candidates for firing). Here are 3 Reasons.
1. Easy firing=easy hiring. I want companies to hire people. In fact, my fondest wish is that all my readers who are searching for jobs find one this year. The more restrictions government places on terminating employees, the more hesitant companies are to hire new people.
2. Bad judgment isn’t limited to online behavior. Companies need employees they can trust to make good decisions. If you lack the critical thinking skills to say, “Hmmm, if I post that my boss is a jerk, my boss just might find out about it,” then you probably lack the critical thinking skills to do your job. Yes, people vent. But the internet is not private. And anyone who thinks they can trust all their 476 friends to keep something quiet isn’t someone I want on my staff.
3. Companies should be able to presume loyalty. I know, I know, your company doesn’t care much about your career and they have no problem firing you, so why should you care about them? Because they pay you to care about them. In a pre-internet case where Delta airline employee was fired over a letter to the editor, “[t]he court in that case held that there ‘”is an implied duty of loyalty, with regard to public communications, that employees owe to their employers.’ Stating that Mr. Marsh violated this implied duty of loyalty by publicly disparaging Delta, the court found that his termination was just.” We forbid employees from giving information to the competitor, which would damage the company, so why not forbid employees from posting information that would hurt the company? The exception to this is when the company is engaging in illegal activity. Then employees should speak out and should be afforded whistleblower protection.
However, I also think that bosses should stay off their employees’ and candidates’ Facebook pages. Why? Because it opens up whole cans of fire-breathing worms. And, once those cans are open, the worms have no interest in going back in. Here’s why:
1. There are things you don’t want to know. Honestly and truly, there are things out there about your employees that you don’t want to know. Even though you can legally fire people easily, few companies allow you to actually do that. And there are lots of unemployed lawyers who would be happy to take your employee’s case.
2. Some information cannot be considered. Yes, you know the gender, age, race, national origin and, frequently, religion and sexual orientation of your employees. But, you can’t make decisions based on this information, so don’t browse Facebook looking for it. Wonder if Jim is gay? What about that candidate? She looked Jewish. Hmmmm. Seriously, even though you wouldn’t make a decision based on protected class information, doesn’t mean you won’t have to defend against it. If you don’t know, your defense is much easier.
3. Your employees are not your friends. I know, you’re a great boss and everyone loves you, but remember they love you because you are paying them. Please keep those worlds separate. Don’t try to “friend” your employees on Facebook, and don’t follow their personal blogs. (If they write career based ones, that’s a different story.) The Evil HR Lady Rule of Work Relationships is that when you are with people from the office you are at the office. Please don’t turn Facebook into the office. (And for heaven’s sake, don’t friend one or two members of your staff, but not the rest. Gah.)
4. One bad statement or questionable picture does not mean a person is a bad employee. We all make mistakes and things can be taken out of context as well. You cannot control it if your “friends” post pictures of you from 10 years ago. Don’t punish your 30 year old employees for something they did at 18.
Right now, I think both employees and employers should use caution when approaching social media at work. Companies need policies. And everyone should stop acting like they are in Junior High. It was bad enough the first time.
MY THOUGHTS
of course a boss and her staff can be friends. they just need to draw clear lines between professional and personal. it can be tricky. but not impossible. as for FB, i think any attack on any person should not be made public. and yes, i'm all for firing someone who would say something bad about the company. that's normally in the rules of conduct.
By Suzanne Lucas | January 21, 2011
Facebook is a tool used by teenagers to torment each other and for adults to complain about their bosses, right? Except that your rude commment about your boss or your coworker, or your inapproriate comments about stupid stuff you did could land you on the curb.
Right now the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is preparing to hear a case where an employee was fired after criticizing her boss on Facebook. (Jon Hyman has a round up of information on this union firing.) But, the NLRB deals largely (although not exclusively) with union employees, who are definitely not “at will” employees, but are under contract.
I still think you should be careful.
I hear the screeching about free speech right now. Well, yes, you have the right to free speech, but I also believe that companies should have the right to terminate people who use that speech to denigrate the company. Free speech, not free from consequences speech. (And remember, it’s only government suppression of speech that is illegal.) Most employees in the United States are at will employees, which means that there is no contract of employment and either party can end it for any or no reason, as long as the reason isn’t an illegal one. For instance, you can’t fire an employee because she’s pregnant, but you can fire a pregnant employee, as long as the pregnancy isn’t the reason.
So, why am I in favor of companies being able to terminate an employee for online behavior? (These things, of course, aren’t limited to Facebook. Myspace, Twitter, and blogs are all good candidates for firing). Here are 3 Reasons.
1. Easy firing=easy hiring. I want companies to hire people. In fact, my fondest wish is that all my readers who are searching for jobs find one this year. The more restrictions government places on terminating employees, the more hesitant companies are to hire new people.
2. Bad judgment isn’t limited to online behavior. Companies need employees they can trust to make good decisions. If you lack the critical thinking skills to say, “Hmmm, if I post that my boss is a jerk, my boss just might find out about it,” then you probably lack the critical thinking skills to do your job. Yes, people vent. But the internet is not private. And anyone who thinks they can trust all their 476 friends to keep something quiet isn’t someone I want on my staff.
3. Companies should be able to presume loyalty. I know, I know, your company doesn’t care much about your career and they have no problem firing you, so why should you care about them? Because they pay you to care about them. In a pre-internet case where Delta airline employee was fired over a letter to the editor, “[t]he court in that case held that there ‘”is an implied duty of loyalty, with regard to public communications, that employees owe to their employers.’ Stating that Mr. Marsh violated this implied duty of loyalty by publicly disparaging Delta, the court found that his termination was just.” We forbid employees from giving information to the competitor, which would damage the company, so why not forbid employees from posting information that would hurt the company? The exception to this is when the company is engaging in illegal activity. Then employees should speak out and should be afforded whistleblower protection.
However, I also think that bosses should stay off their employees’ and candidates’ Facebook pages. Why? Because it opens up whole cans of fire-breathing worms. And, once those cans are open, the worms have no interest in going back in. Here’s why:
1. There are things you don’t want to know. Honestly and truly, there are things out there about your employees that you don’t want to know. Even though you can legally fire people easily, few companies allow you to actually do that. And there are lots of unemployed lawyers who would be happy to take your employee’s case.
2. Some information cannot be considered. Yes, you know the gender, age, race, national origin and, frequently, religion and sexual orientation of your employees. But, you can’t make decisions based on this information, so don’t browse Facebook looking for it. Wonder if Jim is gay? What about that candidate? She looked Jewish. Hmmmm. Seriously, even though you wouldn’t make a decision based on protected class information, doesn’t mean you won’t have to defend against it. If you don’t know, your defense is much easier.
3. Your employees are not your friends. I know, you’re a great boss and everyone loves you, but remember they love you because you are paying them. Please keep those worlds separate. Don’t try to “friend” your employees on Facebook, and don’t follow their personal blogs. (If they write career based ones, that’s a different story.) The Evil HR Lady Rule of Work Relationships is that when you are with people from the office you are at the office. Please don’t turn Facebook into the office. (And for heaven’s sake, don’t friend one or two members of your staff, but not the rest. Gah.)
4. One bad statement or questionable picture does not mean a person is a bad employee. We all make mistakes and things can be taken out of context as well. You cannot control it if your “friends” post pictures of you from 10 years ago. Don’t punish your 30 year old employees for something they did at 18.
Right now, I think both employees and employers should use caution when approaching social media at work. Companies need policies. And everyone should stop acting like they are in Junior High. It was bad enough the first time.
MY THOUGHTS
of course a boss and her staff can be friends. they just need to draw clear lines between professional and personal. it can be tricky. but not impossible. as for FB, i think any attack on any person should not be made public. and yes, i'm all for firing someone who would say something bad about the company. that's normally in the rules of conduct.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
PARENTS' GUIDE TO FACEBOOK
A Parents' Guide to Facebook Released
Posted 11/08/2010 at 7:00am | by Paul Lilly
Worried your teenager might be misusing Facebook and sharing too much information with the world? ConnectSafely.org and the iKeepSafe Coalition want to help and have jointly released "A Parents' Guide to Facebook," a 35-page booklet and online resource designed to help parents show their teens how to optimize their privacy and safety on the world's largest social networking site.
"Many of our recommendations are stricter than Facebook's default settings for teens but, fortunately, Facebook provides excellent tools for further customization. This booklet helps parents and teens customize those tools fo teen-appropriate safety, privacy, and reputation protection," said ConnectSafely co-director Larry Magid.
The guide offers up step-by-step instructions, illustrations, and parenting points on safety and privacy controls, and covers both cell phone and PC-based access.
Guide (PDF)
At-a-Glance chart
http://www.connectsafely.org/Safety-Advice-Articles/facebook-privacy-chart-for-teens.html
MY THOUGHTS
it's quite a good guide. and it's downloadable. for free. click here for the guide.
Posted 11/08/2010 at 7:00am | by Paul Lilly
Worried your teenager might be misusing Facebook and sharing too much information with the world? ConnectSafely.org and the iKeepSafe Coalition want to help and have jointly released "A Parents' Guide to Facebook," a 35-page booklet and online resource designed to help parents show their teens how to optimize their privacy and safety on the world's largest social networking site.
"Many of our recommendations are stricter than Facebook's default settings for teens but, fortunately, Facebook provides excellent tools for further customization. This booklet helps parents and teens customize those tools fo teen-appropriate safety, privacy, and reputation protection," said ConnectSafely co-director Larry Magid.
The guide offers up step-by-step instructions, illustrations, and parenting points on safety and privacy controls, and covers both cell phone and PC-based access.
Guide (PDF)
At-a-Glance chart
http://www.connectsafely.org/Safety-Advice-Articles/facebook-privacy-chart-for-teens.html
MY THOUGHTS
it's quite a good guide. and it's downloadable. for free. click here for the guide.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
PARENTS AND KIDS AS FACEBOOK BUDDIES
Facebook Relationships: Natural for parents & teens
January 19, 2011 | Debbie Turner
http://www.onlinesocialmedia.net/20110119/facebook-relationships-natural-for-parents-teens/
The ever-growing Facebook is sometimes portrayed in a negative light and sometimes there has been the perception that teenagers who are using it are hooked on it and may also use it in rather a covert way, sometimes at the expense of good relationships with their parents.
However an article by Bernd Debusmann over on Reuters goes a long way to dispelling this idea by looking at results from a survey carried out by Kaplan Test Prep. It showed that perhaps contrary to popular opinion, around two-thirds of teenagers in America are happy to share social networking with their parents by having them as Facebook friends. However a note of caution is that 16% of those who have parents among their Facebook friends, only accept them as a prerequisite to signing up.
Not all teenagers are happy to accept their parents as Facebook friends either and 38% say that if their parents send them a friend request they ignore it. However executive director of Kaplan, Kristen Campbell said, “Facebook … continues to be the new frontier in the ever evolving relationship between parent and child,” and also points out that the majority of teens “are not hiding and that is positive.” It’s also noted that for many it opens lines of communication that did not previously exist and also allows teenagers to claim an amount of independence.
Campbell also describes using Facebook as a ‘natural step’ for those that have grown up as part of the Internet generation. Another article, this time by Bridget Tyler on KidGlue, also looks at these survey results and gives some good advice to parents out there that may be finding it hard to be a parent in the social networking age.
What are your thoughts on this and are you surprised by just how open most teenagers are? Where should parents draw the line at involvement in their teen’s social networking lives? Why not let us know by sending us your comments.
MY THOUGHTS
i feel so relieved i am so past teenage years. my mom has a facebook account(and she doesn't know how to use the computer). as a teenager i probably won't like to have my parents in my network. but then, in retrospect, i doubt we would have been allowed to get into social networking sites. i doubt that very very much.
January 19, 2011 | Debbie Turner
http://www.onlinesocialmedia.net/20110119/facebook-relationships-natural-for-parents-teens/
The ever-growing Facebook is sometimes portrayed in a negative light and sometimes there has been the perception that teenagers who are using it are hooked on it and may also use it in rather a covert way, sometimes at the expense of good relationships with their parents.
However an article by Bernd Debusmann over on Reuters goes a long way to dispelling this idea by looking at results from a survey carried out by Kaplan Test Prep. It showed that perhaps contrary to popular opinion, around two-thirds of teenagers in America are happy to share social networking with their parents by having them as Facebook friends. However a note of caution is that 16% of those who have parents among their Facebook friends, only accept them as a prerequisite to signing up.
Not all teenagers are happy to accept their parents as Facebook friends either and 38% say that if their parents send them a friend request they ignore it. However executive director of Kaplan, Kristen Campbell said, “Facebook … continues to be the new frontier in the ever evolving relationship between parent and child,” and also points out that the majority of teens “are not hiding and that is positive.” It’s also noted that for many it opens lines of communication that did not previously exist and also allows teenagers to claim an amount of independence.
Campbell also describes using Facebook as a ‘natural step’ for those that have grown up as part of the Internet generation. Another article, this time by Bridget Tyler on KidGlue, also looks at these survey results and gives some good advice to parents out there that may be finding it hard to be a parent in the social networking age.
What are your thoughts on this and are you surprised by just how open most teenagers are? Where should parents draw the line at involvement in their teen’s social networking lives? Why not let us know by sending us your comments.
MY THOUGHTS
i feel so relieved i am so past teenage years. my mom has a facebook account(and she doesn't know how to use the computer). as a teenager i probably won't like to have my parents in my network. but then, in retrospect, i doubt we would have been allowed to get into social networking sites. i doubt that very very much.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Social network boosts learning
Social network boosts learning
Franklin history class uses online forum to build their skills.
By Andy Sedlak, Staff Writer 4:35 AM Saturday, January 22, 2011
FRANKLIN — Plenty of teachers have taken advantage of the Internet’s researching possibilities, but one Franklin High School teacher is making strides to incorporate the web’s second generation — social networking — into his classes.
Jim McFarland began teaching five years ago and has been using online discussion boards in his history classes for the past three. He usually posts first, typically regarding classroom readings or general assignments, and asks his students to comment on his post and each others’ as part of their homework.
“It allows me to evaluate a lot easier, to get feedback before class even starts,” the 30-year-old said. “So then, in the period that I have them, I can (either) correct and misconceptions they may have had about the reading, or it prevents me from having to be repetitive and go over materials they already understand.”
The use of discussion boards and forums are popular at the college level.
“If he’s teaching them how to use these things safely and responsibly — that’s great — I don’t think (educators) do that enough,” said Janet Hurn, Senior Instructor of Physics at Miami Middletown. “They’ll have a leg up in the modern classroom.”
McFarland asks his students to use Google Docs, which allows access to electronic classroom documents through Google. With a recently updated version, students can simultaneously access the same document, meaning one could be writing the paper’s opening, another the body and a third the conclusion, all at the same time.
“They can help each other, which is more assistance than I can provide,” McFarland said. “It’s that collaborative nature that I like a lot, and the district isn’t paying any money to use these servers. It’s all free and will be — knock on wood — forever.”
McFarland created a Facebook page in the days running up to Franklin’s exam week, where his students had the ability to pose questions about homework or review session times.
“I check it almost every time I get on,” said Emily Simpson, a 17-year-old senior in McFarland’s AP history class.
“It definitely feels different in there, but in a good way,” she said of McFarland’s classroom. “It makes you feel like you’re learning at a faster rate.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or asedlak@coxohio.com.
MY THOUGHTS
any takers? i'm thinking. i'm thinking. i like the idea. just don't know yet how i can do the same.
Franklin history class uses online forum to build their skills.
By Andy Sedlak, Staff Writer 4:35 AM Saturday, January 22, 2011
FRANKLIN — Plenty of teachers have taken advantage of the Internet’s researching possibilities, but one Franklin High School teacher is making strides to incorporate the web’s second generation — social networking — into his classes.
Jim McFarland began teaching five years ago and has been using online discussion boards in his history classes for the past three. He usually posts first, typically regarding classroom readings or general assignments, and asks his students to comment on his post and each others’ as part of their homework.
“It allows me to evaluate a lot easier, to get feedback before class even starts,” the 30-year-old said. “So then, in the period that I have them, I can (either) correct and misconceptions they may have had about the reading, or it prevents me from having to be repetitive and go over materials they already understand.”
The use of discussion boards and forums are popular at the college level.
“If he’s teaching them how to use these things safely and responsibly — that’s great — I don’t think (educators) do that enough,” said Janet Hurn, Senior Instructor of Physics at Miami Middletown. “They’ll have a leg up in the modern classroom.”
McFarland asks his students to use Google Docs, which allows access to electronic classroom documents through Google. With a recently updated version, students can simultaneously access the same document, meaning one could be writing the paper’s opening, another the body and a third the conclusion, all at the same time.
“They can help each other, which is more assistance than I can provide,” McFarland said. “It’s that collaborative nature that I like a lot, and the district isn’t paying any money to use these servers. It’s all free and will be — knock on wood — forever.”
McFarland created a Facebook page in the days running up to Franklin’s exam week, where his students had the ability to pose questions about homework or review session times.
“I check it almost every time I get on,” said Emily Simpson, a 17-year-old senior in McFarland’s AP history class.
“It definitely feels different in there, but in a good way,” she said of McFarland’s classroom. “It makes you feel like you’re learning at a faster rate.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or asedlak@coxohio.com.
MY THOUGHTS
any takers? i'm thinking. i'm thinking. i like the idea. just don't know yet how i can do the same.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)