The Ashimmy Blog: Dont tell me Facebook is serious about security

Yeah, Yeah I know they signed a deal with McAfee. BFD. Facebook is not serious about security. If they were, they would do something about all of the phishing, spam and misleading questionable ads they are getting paid to run.

How many of you have clicked on ads on the right margin of your wall? How many of those have wanted you to install a “toolbar”? How many are scams? Facebook will take money from anyone regardless of what they are trying to foster on their precious members.

But here is why I really know Facebook doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the security of their members. I have a childhood friend of mine whose account was compromised months ago. Since then my friend has changed his password lots of times, he has opened and closed his account several times. In spite of this, everyone who is friends with this person is still receiving messages and wall to wall posts several times day with links to malware infested sites purporting to be You Tube or something else. You know the type with the word LOL or “you have got to see this”.

Of course I know better than to click on these links, but I know several other mutual friends who have and have had to spend money and time cleaning their machines out as a result.

I have reported this to Facebook 6 times or more. I have reported the messages as spam probably 50 times or more. I have walked my friend through reporting it to Facebook numerous times.

What has Facebook done? Not a frigging thing. They refer you to some canned FAQ with things you might be able to do. The result is that probably half of my friend’s friends have dropped him as a friend. Its easier than dealing with the spam, phishing BS.

Facebook won’t get serious about security until it hits them in the pocketbook. What they don’t realize is it all ready has. They may just be killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Twitter on the other hand seems to be really starting to crack down on the twitter spam and rogue accounts. Good for them, #FAIL on facebook.