Facebook Security Flaw Exposed Details of Six Million

It seems privacy is a constant concern to most Facebook users. If you're among those who are worried about how the social networking giant handles your data, you won't be happy with today's news. The company today announced that its process for generating friend suggestions may have resulted in some users' information being exposed.

Facebook says it recently received a report about a bug that allowed some of a user's contact information to be accessed by people who either had some contact information about that user or some connection to them. The company goes on to explain just how this all happened, revealing that some of the information used to make friend recommendations (a combination of contact lists or address books uploaded by users and contact information already on Facebook) was inadvertently stored in association with people's contact information as part of their Facebook account. People using the Download Your Information Tool may then have been provided with additional information (email addresses or phone numbers) for their contacts or "people with whom they have come connection."

Facebook says that roughly six million users had email addresses or numbers shared as a result of this bug. Other email addresses and phone numbers included in the downloads were not connected to any Facebook accounts or names. Facebook says that each email address or phone number was only included in one or two downloads and that no other personal information was shared. Facebook is emailing affected users and regulators in Canada, the U.S. and Europe have been notified about the incident.

  • de5_Roy
    so this is the supposed 'big reveal' facebook was talking about earlier... :P
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  • BoredErica
    THanks for the tip, I'll go exploit that right now.
    Reply
  • slomo4sho
    There is a new hole for every one that they eventually get around to patching...
    Reply
  • kid-mid
    this is what happens when you attempt to to be bigger than what you need to be in the first place Facebook. you tried to jump on the stock market and your stocks tanked, tried charging for post advertisements and that failed, and your spam security has always been the worse.
    smh...
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  • everlast66
    One of those "Ooops, I did it again" moments for FB again, but no probs, with the government snooping all communications the data is not private anyway so no harm done ...
    /sarcasm
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  • Bam2U
    Imagine the price FaceBook--and all companies with breaches involving their customers-- had to notify those consumers directly of that breach. You could be a victim of this breach. I could be a victim of this breach. Imagine 6 million consumers raising their voices to loudly complain to FaceBook and other consumer and law enforcement entities about violation of their privacy. Breaches would virtually cease because of the price such companies would have to pay. Was your information breached by FaceBook? What would be your reaction if you knew others had your information when the company policy promised that would not happen? Shouldn't those companies have some higher responsibility for carelessly allowing their information to get into the hands of others? Shouldn't the security level with which they guard their own private information be the same security level used to guard your information? If 6 million FaceBook subscribers knew their info was breached, would they likely cancel their subscription? Would that have an impact on FaceBook and other such companies to take extremely seriously the security of their customers? Policy changes need to occur requiring companies to provide direct notice to individuals whose security is breached.
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  • dextermat
    Facebook drives like they fix exploits : lousy!!
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  • okibrian
    Some people always use to ask me why I don't join Facebook like everyone else. Now I just smile when I see those people.
    Reply
  • okibrian
    Some people always use to ask me why I don't join Facebook like everyone else. Now I just smile when I see those people.
    Reply
  • halcyon
    Now is one of those times again when I'm glad I've not chosen to join Facebook. Followers following the followers.
    Reply