We’re used to Facebook’s violations of users’ privacy. LinkedIn has joined the fun.
Yesterday, I became aware of two LinkedIn privacy concerns:
- Users of LinkedIn’s 6-month old LinkedIn app for iPhone and iPad have been, without their knowledge, uploading their entire calendars to LinkedIn’s servers.
- A Russian hacker announced that he had downloaded usernames and passwords for 6.5 million LinkedIn accounts. To prove it, he published the passwords on the web.
LinkedIn presents itself as a site where professionals meet, unlike the unwashed slobs on Facebook. Its business model is similar to Facebook’s: collect every byte of information about its users and sell that data to advertisers. I wonder if LinkedIn’s professional users will be as unconcerned by LinkedIn’s lack of diligence as Facebook’s naïve users seem to be?
Better change your e-harmony password too:
Meanwhile, 1.5 million passwords belonging to users of online dating site eHarmony may also have been stolen, perhaps by the same hacker who attacked LinkedIn.
http://www.technolog.msnbc.msn.com/technology/technolog/linkedin-confirms-password-leak-eharmony-has-one-too-816238#/technology/technolog/
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I fear that many users on these sites will have their bank accounts drained because they use one password on multiple accounts. With Keepass, I’m able to maintain a unique password for each account. I don’t know how I’d do so without Keepass.
Did you watch/listen to the Youtube clip that’s linked to by the screencap of Livia Scott? It’s cute. Its title: “I Like You Better On Facebook”.
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Last week Apple announced that iOS 6 (scheduled for release this Fall) will by default prevent apps from accessing information such as a user’s calendar, notes, etc. This should prevent leaks such as the one caused by LinkedIn’s app.
Article: http://threatpost.com/en_us/blogs/tightened-security-regulated-app-permissions-store-ios-6-061512
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