How does Facebook do it's spying?
philo
I joined but had not given it any info yet other than just creating
my account.
No, I did not use my email password.
The first thing it did was find my two best friends
and ask if I wanted to ask them to "be my friend"
That's all fine but how the hell did it pick out my two best friends
and no one else?
Beauregard T. Shagnasty
> decided to see what Facebook is about
Lucky you, eh? <g>
> I joined but had not given it any info yet other than just creating
> my account. No, I did not use my email password.
>
> The first thing it did was find my two best friends
> and ask if I wanted to ask them to "be my friend"
> That's all fine but how the hell did it pick out my two best friends
> and no one else?
Do you have a Google gmail account? Are the two friends in that account
address book?
I created a Facebook account last summer so I could look for high school
classmates for the upcoming 50th reunion. During the signup process, a
small scrolling textbox appeared with the heading "Do you want to invite
your friends?" or similar. Within that textbox was a series of
checkboxes for every single address in my gmail address book.
Pre-checked!
Someone in a hurry could easily have missed that. It seemed obvious that
Facebook and Google are in each others' pants. Giving away private
information.
--
-bts
-Friends don't let friends drive Windows
philo
> philo wrote:
>
>> decided to see what Facebook is about
>
> Lucky you, eh? <g>
>
>> I joined but had not given it any info yet other than just creating
>> my account. No, I did not use my email password.
>>
>> The first thing it did was find my two best friends
>> and ask if I wanted to ask them to "be my friend"
>> That's all fine but how the hell did it pick out my two best friends
>> and no one else?
>
> Do you have a Google gmail account? Are the two friends in that account
> address book?
>
Yes I have a gmail account and the friends are in that address book
however I had *not* given Facebook the password to my gmail account
Had I given them my email password I can see how they would have found
the people ...but I had not given it to them.
Maybe it snooped for it?
philo
> On Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:37:01 -0600, philo <ph...@privacy.net> wrote:
>
>> Yes I have a gmail account and the friends are in that address book
>>
>> however I had *not* given Facebook the password to my gmail account
>>
>>
>> Had I given them my email password I can see how they would have found
>> the people ...but I had not given it to them.
>>
>> Maybe it snooped for it?
>
> facebook that password, and you were in that address book.
>
> You didn't give any information - high school? Employer?
Though I did give my High School , College and Employer...
I do not know them from any of the above.
I know as a fact that one of them does *not* have a Gmail account
but they are both in *my* Gamil address book
and my email address has my handle of "philo" in it...
but I used my actual name on Facebook
greylines
<a.non...@example.invalid> wrote:
> During the signup process, a
> small scrolling textbox appeared with the heading "Do you want to invite
> your friends?" or similar. Within that textbox was a series of
> checkboxes for every single address in my gmail address book.
> Pre-checked!
>
> Someone in a hurry could easily have missed that. It seemed obvious that
> Facebook and Google are in each others' pants. Giving away private
> information.
>
I'm very suspicious of FB and Google where "privacy" is concerned so I
never use the same email address for any of them.
Having my own domain helps (TheirDomainRandomNumber AT mydomain DOT tld)
but even without your own domain I'd recommend setting up different
addresses @freebie email.tld for signing up to services with.
When it comes down to the nitty gritty, they're advertisers first and
service providers second.
Here's a few questions, I'd be interested in knowing answers to.
Please remember though, I can't help you in any way, but I figure the more
info in the public domain regarding how these "service providers" work,
the better for everybody.
1. Were you seeing ALL your gmail contacts or just those who had already
signed up to FB?
2. Did you use the same password when signing up for FB as you were
already using for Gmail?
3. Were you already logged into Gmail at the time you signed up with FB?
Peter signs up to Facebook and supplies email address "peter AT gmail.com"
as his contact address.
Facebook scans system and discovers $User has previously signed up and has
supplied their whole address book INCLUDING "peter AT gmail.com"
Facebook offers as friends, all FB accounts which contain email addresses
of Peter AND/OR $User.
--
greylines
if you must mail me
ihatespam at greylines dot net
Beauregard T. Shagnasty
> Beauregard T. Shagnasty wrote:
>> philo wrote:
>>> I joined but had not given it any info yet other than just creating
>>> my account. No, I did not use my email password.
>>>
>>> The first thing it did was find my two best friends
>>> and ask if I wanted to ask them to "be my friend"
>>> That's all fine but how the hell did it pick out my two best friends
>>> and no one else?
>>
>> Do you have a Google gmail account? Are the two friends in that account
>> address book?
>
> Yes I have a gmail account and the friends are in that address book
>
> however I had *not* given Facebook the password to my gmail account
Neither did I. However, I did use the same name for the Facebook account
as I use for the gmail email address.
> Had I given them my email password I can see how they would have found
> the people ...but I had not given it to them.
I did not use the same password for Facebook as I use for the gmail. I
never gave Facebook my gmail password.
> Maybe it snooped for it?
Yes, obviously. That's the point I'm trying to make. Facebook directly
read my gmail address book. Without asking.
Oh, and most, if not all, of the addresses that Facebook displayed to
"be my friends" were *not* gmail or yahoo addresses. In fact, most were
att.net addresses - entirely unrelated to either Facebook or gmail.
philo
Well
I realized that if the two people had my real name in their address book
and had given their address book to Facebook then that could explain.
Anyway...I always make the assumption that any email I write it not
going to be private...and the truth is that if anyone stated snooping
into my private life...they'd soon be fast asleep with boredom!
philo
> On Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:31:33 -0000, Beauregard T. Shagnasty
> <a.non...@example.invalid> wrote:
>
>> During the signup process, a
>> small scrolling textbox appeared with the heading "Do you want to invite
>> your friends?" or similar. Within that textbox was a series of
>> checkboxes for every single address in my gmail address book.
>> Pre-checked!
>>
>> Someone in a hurry could easily have missed that. It seemed obvious that
>> Facebook and Google are in each others' pants. Giving away private
>> information.
>>
>
> I'm very suspicious of FB and Google where "privacy" is concerned so I
> never use the same email address for any of them.
> Having my own domain helps (TheirDomainRandomNumber AT mydomain DOT tld)
> but even without your own domain I'd recommend setting up different
> addresses @freebie email.tld for signing up to services with.
> When it comes down to the nitty gritty, they're advertisers first and
> service providers second.
>
> Here's a few questions, I'd be interested in knowing answers to.
> Please remember though, I can't help you in any way, but I figure the
> more info in the public domain regarding how these "service providers"
> work, the better for everybody.
> 1. Were you seeing ALL your gmail contacts or just those who had already
> signed up to FB?
When I first signed up...
I had not given it permission to look at my address book.
It found two of my best friends but *no one* else
> 2. Did you use the same password when signing up for FB as you were
> already using for Gmail?
Nope..I used a different password
> 3. Were you already logged into Gmail at the time you signed up with FB?
>
>
No
> Peter signs up to Facebook and supplies email address "peter AT
> gmail.com" as his contact address.
> Facebook scans system and discovers $User has previously signed up and
> has supplied their whole address book INCLUDING "peter AT gmail.com"
> Facebook offers as friends, all FB accounts which contain email
> addresses of Peter AND/OR $User.
>
>
The people probably had my real name in their address book
and had given their address book over to Facebook
The real puzzler is why did it pick my two best friends?
I have a lot of people in my address book who are undoubtedly
on Facebook and it's likely Facbook has my name already on record
through a lot of people.
Was it by having an ISP in close proximity to mine I wonder?
That much is a common factor
Beauregard T. Shagnasty
> The people probably had my real name in their address book
> and had given their address book over to Facebook
That can't be the case, as I know most - if not all - of the people in
my gmail address book do not have Facebook accounts.
greylines
>
> The real puzzler is why did it pick my two best friends?
>
> I have a lot of people in my address book who are undoubtedly
> on Facebook and it's likely Facbook has my name already on record
> through a lot of people.
>
> Was it by having an ISP in close proximity to mine I wonder?
>
> That much is a common factor
Geographic factors are used by a lot of sites these days for various
reasons.
I'd suspect that if your two best friends weren't geographically close
then it would have suggested the next two people who were.
philo
> philo wrote:
>
>> The people probably had my real name in their address book
>> and had given their address book over to Facebook
>
> That can't be the case, as I know most - if not all - of the people in
> my gmail address book do not have Facebook accounts.
>
Looks like you must be right...anyway...
I think Facebook has done a better job of spying than the FBI could have
done
philo
Well
looks like nothing is private...not that I have anything to hide
greylines
>
> Well
>
> looks like nothing is private...not that I have anything to hide
>
My issue is that just because you haven't done anything wrong, imoral,
socially dubious or illegal, it doesn't follow that you don't have
anything to hide. I prefer to decide for myself what I do and don't want
to share with others especially if those others are companies looking to
mine my data so they can provide "targeted advertising" or otherwise use
my info for their purposes.
I am well aware that there is no such thing as "anonymous" on the
internet, but...
Stephen Wolstenholme
wrote:
I've no idea how it found your two best friends but it makes a change
from the normal invites that Facebook produces. We have just had a
discussion in another newsgroup about how Facebook usually finds
"friends" that are totally unknown. In my case the only friend it
found that I know is my brother.
Steve
--
Neural Planner Software Ltd www.NPSL1.com
Neural network applications, help and support.
philo
Yes
I agree completely.
philo
> philo wrote:
>
>> The people probably had my real name in their address book
>> and had given their address book over to Facebook
>>
>> The real puzzler is why did it pick my two best friends?
>
>
> FB recognized your email address (that your friends already sent to FB) and
> automatically popped up your pals.
>
That's a possibility I suppose
philo
> On Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:13:25 -0600, philo <ph...@privacy.invalid>
> wrote:
>
>> decided to see what Facebook is about
>>
>> I joined but had not given it any info yet other than just creating
>> my account.
>>
>> No, I did not use my email password.
>>
>> The first thing it did was find my two best friends
>> and ask if I wanted to ask them to "be my friend"
>>
>> That's all fine but how the hell did it pick out my two best friends
>>
>> and no one else?
>
> I've no idea how it found your two best friends but it makes a change
> from the normal invites that Facebook produces. We have just had a
> discussion in another newsgroup about how Facebook usually finds
> "friends" that are totally unknown. In my case the only friend it
> found that I know is my brother.
>
> Steve
>
Once I completed everything
then it did start picking up people I don't know...
such as friends of friends of friends.
At my age I find it interesting to occasionally re-establish contact
with people I've known many years ago. Most of them have been worth
talking to...but certainly not all <G>
Mike Yetto
You may want read this article from the Electronic Frontier
Foundation.
<URL:http://preview.tinyurl.com/yffmwmn>
Mike "Good, Bad and Ugly" Yetto
--
In theory, theory and practice are the same.
In practice they are not.
Mike Yetto
> Beauregard T. Shagnasty wrote:
>> philo wrote:
>>
>>> decided to see what Facebook is about
>>
>> Lucky you, eh? <g>
>>
>>> I joined but had not given it any info yet other than just creating
>>> my account. No, I did not use my email password.
>>>
>>> The first thing it did was find my two best friends
>>> and ask if I wanted to ask them to "be my friend"
>>> That's all fine but how the hell did it pick out my two best friends
>>> and no one else?
>>
>> Do you have a Google gmail account? Are the two friends in that account
>> address book?
>>
>
> Yes I have a gmail account and the friends are in that address book
>
> however I had *not* given Facebook the password to my gmail account
>
You only had to give them your gmail address. They already know
the password. After all, Facebook is Google.
>
> Had I given them my email password I can see how they would have found
> the people ...but I had not given it to them.
>
> Maybe it snooped for it?
>
They already had it.
Mike "do no evil? ha" Yetto
richard
You give them real information?
I never use real info on accounts like that. No telling what they'll do
with it.
philo
Thanks
thus far I've put essentially nothing on my profile
guess I've been in the public view a lot more than I expected just
posting on Usenet.
The last time I put a link to a friend's website here...
she got 1000 hits over the next couple of days...
even though just a few had commented on line
philo
I did give real info but not much
In other words...I gave them all of it LOL
�n�hw��f
news:i8qpegino91c$.3lcncw8y...@40tude.net:
Sell it to advertizers, duh.
Smart peeps create a parallel identity and maintain that for their
Netlife. Off the net in meatspace you can be you. But theres no
reason to be limited by reality in teh virtual worls...
Jus Sayin[tm]
PS, I'll totally be your friend if you get me this:
http://www.zazzle.com/goldman_sucks_tshirt-
235103363449708625http://www.zazzle.com/goldman_sucks_tshirt-
235103363449708625
--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COaoYqkpkUA
cageprisoners.com|www.snuhwolf.9f.com|www.eyeonpalin.org
_____ ____ ____ __ /\_/\ __ _ ______ _____
/ __/ |/ / / / / // // . . \\ \ |\ | / __ \ \ \ __\
_\ \/ / /_/ / _ / \ / \ \| \| \ \_\ \ \__\ _\
/___/_/|_/\____/_//_/ \_@_/ \__|\__|\____/\____\_\
philo
Figures
philo
I already have a parallel life
but there are some folks who know me by my real name that I would not
mind contacting.
anyway at least gmail has a good spam filter
Don't recall any spam actually getting through
OldGringo38
Two Cents To The G. Morgan Post:
> philo wrote:
>
>>
>> The people probably had my real name in their address book
>> and had given their address book over to Facebook
>>
>> The real puzzler is why did it pick my two best friends?
>
>
> FB recognized your email address (that your friends already sent to FB) and
> automatically popped up your pals.
>
--
Old Gringo
Just West Of Nowhere
Enjoy Life And Live It To Its Fullest
http://www.NuBoy-Industries.com
richard
My favorite identity is to use the address of 1313 mockingbird ln clines
corners nm. Which is a tourist trap.
Sometimes I use Dallas Texas because that one does exist and there is a law
firm there.
philo
speaking of tourist traps
the La Brea tar put has been trapping critters for millions of years
philo
> , In The Beginning God Created The Heavens And Earth, Then I Added My
> Two Cents To The G. Morgan Post:
>> philo wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> The people probably had my real name in their address book
>>> and had given their address book over to Facebook
>>>
>>> The real puzzler is why did it pick my two best friends?
>>
>>
>> Those 2 friends may have already sent you an invitation. When you
>> signed up,
>> FB recognized your email address (that your friends already sent to
>> FB) and
>> automatically popped up your pals.
>>
> What is it and how do you make it work?? I'm working on it. <g>
>
I thought that if I got a computer and joined the 20th century
that would be good enough.
now I have to join the 21st century...sheesh
1952 was not a bad year.
My parents had a hot plate ,a Nesco
a clock, a washing machine, a car, an AM radio and a phone!
(other than clothing and a few pieces of furniture that was it)
never figured there'd be more stuff
OldGringo38
finding much fascination in the 21st century but sure do like the
technology.
Stephen Wolstenholme
wrote:
>richard <mem...@newsguy.com> clouded the waters of pure thought with
>news:i8qpegino91c$.3lcncw8y...@40tude.net:
>
>> On Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:13:25 -0600, philo wrote:
>>
>>> decided to see what Facebook is about
>>>
>>> I joined but had not given it any info yet other than just
>>> creating my account.
>>>
>>> No, I did not use my email password.
>>>
>>>
>>> The first thing it did was find my two best friends
>>> and ask if I wanted to ask them to "be my friend"
>>>
>>>
>>> That's all fine but how the hell did it pick out my two best
>>> friends
>>>
>>> and no one else?
>>
>> You give them real information?
>> I never use real info on accounts like that. No telling what
>> they'll do with it.
>>
>
>Sell it to advertizers, duh.
>Smart peeps create a parallel identity and maintain that for their
>Netlife. Off the net in meatspace you can be you. But theres no
>reason to be limited by reality in teh virtual worls...
>
I've had no problems using real information. If it is being sold to
advertisers then nobody wants to sell anything to me as I have not
received any adverts.
Stephen Wolstenholme
wrote:
>OldGringo38 wrote:
>
>>What is it and how do you make it work?? I'm working on it. <g>
>
>Have it scan your email for contacts, you'll get quite a few friends quickly
>that way!
>
I see you use Agent. How do you get Facebook to scan your email? It
won't scan mine.
philo
Digital Nesco, right ?
philo
> OldGringo38 wrote:
>
>> What is it and how do you make it work?? I'm working on it. <g>
>
> that way!
>
>
Yes I did let it scan my email as I figured it had it anyway
richard
I get my share of crap. Not from places like facebook, but other places who
like to share addy's.
And thanks to google, you can search for addy's all day long.
Google is only to happy to post them for you.
OldGringo38
and find it fascinating.
OldGringo38
Two Cents To The G. Morgan Post:
>
>> What is it and how do you make it work?? I'm working on it.<g>
>
> that way!
>
> I left you a note on your page :-)
>
philo
Honest truth
I had never heard of that until you just mentioned it.
OldGringo38
found it so interesting I bought 2 of the counter top units. I
modified the top of my electric range to accommodate them and away I
went.
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/countertop-induction-range-1800-watt-120v/922IC1800%20%20%20120.html
See 2nd review.
philo
Aha!
the 21st century version of a hot plate!
wow
OldGringo38
The units I have are faster than my Microwave (1,200w full size) and
electric range (GE)
�n�hw��f
with news:hg14is$oss$1...@news.eternal-september.org:
So you have a linkedIn page (which is for professionals anyway) where
you use RL info and a Facebook page where you use the VR identity you
carefully crafted?
Good Idea.
> but there are some folks who know me by my real name that I would
> not mind contacting.
>
So they get to you via linkedIn...
> anyway at least gmail has a good spam filter
> Don't recall any spam actually getting through
>
Gmail looks for keywords in your emails.
Jus Sayin[tm]
^_^
philo
I joined LinkedIn
but then saw I'd have to pay to actually contact people.
naah...didn't want to do that
at least not now
�n�hw��f
It weeds out the chaff...thats why only professionals use it.
Cork Soaker
> decided to see what Facebook is about
>
> I joined but had not given it any info yet other than just creating
> my account.
>
> No, I did not use my email password.
>
>
> The first thing it did was find my two best friends
> and ask if I wanted to ask them to "be my friend"
>
>
> That's all fine but how the hell did it pick out my two best friends
>
> and no one else?
They will already have added your email address to their profiles. It's
very simple.