Facebook Apps

Remember all the dilemma about the Facebook Privacy and stuff about half a year ago? Well it to quite after Facebook re-designed their code so you can straighten your privacy, but is your private information really private?

You have probably seen popup like the one in the picture below , when an application is requesting access to post stuff to your Facebook wall. Now you might see some extra text like:

“Current Address and Mobile Phone Number”

That means that your address and mobile phone number will be shared with third party apps and some might not need that info but still can obtain if you click on “Allow” button.

So next time when you are about to hit Allow for some Facebook App consider reading the popup window bit more closely, and ask your self: Why does this app need my address and phone number?

Anyway, for more detailed info visit our friends at Naked Security.

January 16, 2011
Posted by Joe Hobot at 12:29 PM
1 Response
Facebook, Social Networks
Tagged with: Facebook, Facebook Apps, facebook privacy

LOLapps is one of huge social games providers on the Facebook with over 150 million users. This weekend it had witnessed a halt through pulling out the plug on from Facebook. This action initiated a grinding halt for all the games that were belong to this company.

LOLapps popular games such as Critter Island, Garden Life, Diva Life, Band of Heroes, and Supermodel: The Game, Yakuza Lords and some of the exclusive Facebook versions such as Dante’s Inferno and Champions Online and some more are always favorites for many Facebook members. If you try to find any of these favorite games now on Facebook, you will be reverted back with “page not found”.

In fact, social gaming is one of the popular activities at Facebook and this is one of the important reasons for the Facebook’s current success too. Also, recently introduced Facebook Credits is initiated very lucrative platform for Facebook through these online games too. At this kind of situation, this action from Facebook is unpredictable about how it is going to shape up. Keeping in mind the social gaming enthusiasts, Facebook and LOLapps should resolve the issue at the earliest.

In fact, the reason for this initiation is still unknown. But, Facebook’s spokesperson said to VentureBeat as “We have disabled applications from LOLapps due to violation of our terms”. The spokesperson quite reluctant to reveal the terms of violation that was took place from LOLapps in this issue.

LOLapps, CEO, Arjun Sethi released a statement of his own saying “We can’t provide comment at this time. We will update you as soon as we are able to”.

October 17, 2010
Posted by Joe Hobot at 10:14 PM
1 Response
Facebook, Social Networks
Tagged with: apps, band of heroes, champions online, critter island, dante's inferno, diva life, Facebook, Facebook Apps, facebook platform, garden life, lolapps, online gaming, social gaming, supermodel the game, terms of service, TOS, yakuza lords

According to Sophos there is a new “Rogue” Facebook App loose again, titled ‘Teacher nearly killed this boy’.

Sophos says:

“Over 190,000 people have so far clicked on a link sent by a rogue Facebook application, which tempts users into giving the application access to their Facebook profile in exchange for seeing a “shocking video” of what is alleged to be a teacher physically assaulting a boy.

A quick search on Facebook reveals thousands of users are promoting the link on their newsfeeds, encouraging their friends and acquaintances to also add the application:

A typical message reads:

I am shocked!!! The teacher nearly killed this boy: http://bit.ly/aWeBMl – Worldwide scandal!

Clicking on the bit.ly link redirects Facebook users to a page promoting a Facebook application called “Teacher nearly kills a 13 year old boy. SHOCKING!”, which offers what appears to be a video thumbnail of the attack and the encouragement to “Click here, then ALLOW, to see the shocking video”.

If you were unlucky and been hit by this attack, Sophos advices that you check your privacy settings and remove the application from your profile. Furthermore, delete any posts it may have put on your newsfeed – so no more of your friends can be tempted into clicking on the link and falling for the same trap.

I am not sure if Facebook has removed this threat yet?

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June 16, 2010
Posted by Joe Hobot at 6:35 PM
1 Response
Facebook
Tagged with: Facebook, facebook app virus, Facebook Apps, security, sophos

VeriSign caught one member “Kirllos” selling 1.5 Million Facebook accounts on hacker forum. Kirllos was selling Facebook accounts between $25-$45 for 1000 email addresses and passwords. Now you know how much your Facebook Privacy and Account is worth. Not only that, how many from those 1.5 Million accounts are using same password for Bank login, Email Login, Work Login ? So it’s not just that Facebook Accounts we are talking about here.

Here is some extract from IDG News Service:

IDefense doesn’t know if Kirllos’ accounts are legitimate, and Facebook didn’t respond to messages Thursday seeking comment. If they are legitimate, he has the account information of about one in every 300 Facebook users. His asking price varies from US$25 to $45 per 1,000 accounts, depending on the number of contacts each user has

To date, Kirllos seems to have sold close to 700,000 accounts, according to VeriSign Director of Cyber Intelligence Rick Howard.

Kirllos’ Facebook prices are extremely cheap compared to what others are charging. In its most recent Internet Security Threat Report, Symantec found that e-mail usernames and passwords typically went for between $1 to $20 per account — Kirllos wants as little as $0.025 per Facebook account. More coveted credit card or bank account details can go for much more, ranging between $0.85 to $30 for credit card numbers to $15 to $850 for top-quality online bank accounts.

Looks like nobody gives a damn about this topic so much, as it did not hit the main stream media “yet”. Which means Kirllos and others like him will proceed with selling Facebook Accounts.

My best advice is , be friend with only people who you personally know, who you can actually call and verify that they sent you Private Message. Make your Facebook Password strong and change it every 3 months. Don’t play those stupid Flash games or start playing every App that seems to be legit. You never know who is actually gathering what data from your profile.

Might want to read this fresh written post by RRW: How to delete Facebook Apps.

Online Clue

“Rogue” Facebook App loose, titled ‘Teacher nearly killed this boy’.