MySpace Leaks Like a Facebook
Facebook isn't the only passenger on the leaky boat of privacy: Numerous popular apps and games on MySpace [http://www.myspace.com] have also been sending user data to online advertisers.
It came out a FarmVille [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104470-FarmVille-Leaks-Facebook-User-Data-to-the-Internet], were leaking identifiable user data to online advertisers and data trackers. "Tens of millions" of Facebook users were affected by the breach, although interest in the problem seemed limited to those with a good degree of anti-Facebook rancor to start with. But it turns out that Facebook isn't alone.
Much like RockYou [http://www.facebook.com] spokeswoman said the information leaking from its software was actually being sent by a third company, without its knowledge.
"We have taken immediate action to indefinitely suspend their services in connection with RockYou and we are reviewing all third-party providers to ensure compliance with our platform partners' terms of service," she said.
The Wall Street Journal [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303738504575568460409331560.html] said the MySpace leak could be "more limited" than Facebook's because it allows its members to use "screen names" rather than their real names. Facebook also requires its users to make their gender and country public, and of course it has a much greater number of users. Nonetheless, it highlights a very simple truth about life online: Now more than ever, privacy is the responsibility of the individual, and relying on policies and corporate benevolence to protect it is one of the quickest ways to kiss it goodbye.
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Facebook isn't the only passenger on the leaky boat of privacy: Numerous popular apps and games on MySpace [http://www.myspace.com] have also been sending user data to online advertisers.
It came out a FarmVille [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104470-FarmVille-Leaks-Facebook-User-Data-to-the-Internet], were leaking identifiable user data to online advertisers and data trackers. "Tens of millions" of Facebook users were affected by the breach, although interest in the problem seemed limited to those with a good degree of anti-Facebook rancor to start with. But it turns out that Facebook isn't alone.
Much like RockYou [http://www.facebook.com] spokeswoman said the information leaking from its software was actually being sent by a third company, without its knowledge.
"We have taken immediate action to indefinitely suspend their services in connection with RockYou and we are reviewing all third-party providers to ensure compliance with our platform partners' terms of service," she said.
The Wall Street Journal [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303738504575568460409331560.html] said the MySpace leak could be "more limited" than Facebook's because it allows its members to use "screen names" rather than their real names. Facebook also requires its users to make their gender and country public, and of course it has a much greater number of users. Nonetheless, it highlights a very simple truth about life online: Now more than ever, privacy is the responsibility of the individual, and relying on policies and corporate benevolence to protect it is one of the quickest ways to kiss it goodbye.
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