Facebook ”Loophole” Opens Door For Personal Data Harvesting

It looks like security breaches are getting more and more common these days, and one of the more recent ones in memory would be the Stagefright flaw on the Android platform that allows hackers to gain access to your system with but a single MMS. This time around, it looks as though Facebook is not all that watertight, so to speak. Basically, if you have left your mobile number on your Facebook profile, then you have reason for worry. Basically, someone is able to perform a search for you simply by keying in your mobile number.

It is not surprising to hear of Facebook being hit with requests and demands from users who are concerned regarding this matter, in order for Facebook to further tighten its “privacy settings”. This bit of “loophole”, so to speak, was shared by software engineer Reza Moaiandin, where he shared how he was able to gain access to “names, profile pictures and locations of users who had linked their mobile number to their Facebook account”.

It is rather disappointing that Facebook has not taken the necessary steps to safeguard users’ information and identity, but I guess it is always a learning process for everyone involved. Now that this bit of information has leaked out, at least Facebook will be able to do something about the situation and hopefully, nothing like this will happen again in the future – not just for Facebook, but for other social networks or online services that have plenty of users or subscribers.

Edwin Kee
Categories: Computers
Tags: Facebook