Most people are aware of the potential dangers of using Facebook, but many continue to use the site anyway. Here are some of the risks associated with using Facebook:
1. Identity theft – if you provide personal information on Facebook, including your name, address and date of birth, you could be at risk of identity theft. This is because criminals can use this information to apply for credit in your name or open bank accounts in your name and commit fraud.
2. Social engineering – criminals can use Facebook to collect information about you that they can then use to exploit you. For example, they may pretend to be a friend in need and ask for money or sensitive information such as passwords. They may also create fake profiles in order to friend people and gain access to their private information.
3. Malware – clicking on malicious links or downloading infected files from Facebook can result in your computer becoming infected with malware (viruses, trojans, worms etc). This malware can then be used to steal your personal information or carry out other criminal activities such as sending spam emails from your account.
4. Phishing – phishing scams are common on Facebook where criminals send messages or post links that appear to be from a reputable source (e.
Your information is being shared with third parties
When you sign up for Facebook, you may not realize it, but you are giving the site a to n of personal information. This includes your name, age, gender, interests, hometown, and much more. You might think that this information is only used to improve your experience on the site or show you targeted ads. However, it turns out that Facebook has been sharing this information with third-party companies without your consent.
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This was first revealed in 2018 when it was discovered that Facebook had given access to user data to Cambridge Analytica. This company then used that data to create targeted political ads during the 2016 US Presidential Election. The scandal caused a lot of public outcry and led to an investigation by the US government.
Since then, Facebook has promised to be more transparent about how it handles user data. However, recent reports have shown that the company is still sharing personal information with hundreds of third-party companies. These companies include some of the biggest names in tech, such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Yahoo.
So why does Facebook keep sharing your data? The simple answer is money. These companies are willing to pay big bucks for access to Facebook’s massive user base. In fact, it’s estimated that FB makes billions of dollars each year from selling user data.
Of course, this raises a lot of privacy concerns. For one thing, it’s unclear how these companies are using the data they receive from Facebook. It’s also worth noting that many FB users are not aware that their personal information is being shared. In other words, they are not able to opt out of having their data shared.
The good news is, there are some steps you can take to protect your privacy on FB. For example, you can limit the amount of information you share on your profile. You can also adjust your privacy settings so that only friends can see your posts. Finally, you can use a VPN service whenever you log into FB. This will encrypt your traffic and make it harder for third-parties to snoop on your activity.
Privacy settings revert to a less safe default mode after each redesign
When Facebook makes changes to its privacy settings, it often reverts users to a less safe default mode. This has led to concerns that the social networking site is not doing enough to protect users’ privacy.
In 2010, Facebook made a number of changes to its privacy settings. One of the most controversial was the introduction of the “Everyone” setting, which made information visible to anyone on the internet, regardless of whether they were friends with the user or not.
The change prompted an outcry from users and privacy advocates, who accused Facebook of making it too easy for people to share sensitive information online. The company later reverted the setting back to its previous default, which only allowed friends to see information that had been explicitly shared with them.
However, Facebook has continued to make changes that have led to concerns about user privacy. In 2012, the company made it possible for advertisers to target users based on their interests and demographics. This meant that businesses could target ads at specific groups of people based on their age, gender or location.
The change prompted criticism from Privacy International and other groups who said that it violated users’ right to privacy. However, Facebook defended the move by saying that it would help businesses reach their target audiences more effectively.
In 2013, Facebook changed its News Feed algorithm so that posts from brands and Pages would be given more prominence than those from friends and family members. The change was designed to help businesses get more exposure on the site but it led some users to complain that they were seeing too many ads in their News Feeds.
“There is a danger of Facebook becoming the next MySpace.” – Unknown
Facebook ads may contain malware
There have been multiple reports of Facebook ads containing malware. In some cases, clicking on the ad leads to a malicious website that can infect your computer with a virus or spyware. In other cases, the ad itself may be malicious and can infect your computer if you simply view it.
Many people don’t realize that Facebook ads are not necessarily safe just because they’re on Facebook. Facebook does not screen ads before they’re displayed, so it’s possible for scammers and cybercriminals to place ads containing malware on the site.
If you see a suspicious ad on Facebook, do not click on it! If you’re not sure whether an ad is safe, you can report it to Facebook using the “Report” link that appears in the bottom-right corner of every ad.
If you click on a malicious ad and end up on a website that tries to install viruses or spyware on your computer, do not proceed! Immediately close out of the browser window or tab and run a virus scan on your computer to check for any infections. If you believe your computer is infected with malware, contact a professional IT specialist for help.
Scammers are creating fake profiles
Scammers are creating fake profiles on Facebook in order to take advantage of unsuspecting users. These scammers will often friend people they don’t know and then message them asking for personal information or money. If you receive a friend request from someone you don’t know, be wary of accepting it. If you’re ever unsure about whether a profile is real or not, you can always check out the person’s other social media accounts to see if they’re legitimate. There are also several Facebook groups dedicated to exposing scammers, so it’s worth doing a quick search before accepting any friend requests.