Facebook Messages

An important update follows the article.

 



Facebook Messages


 

Facebook has been sending out notifications they are eliminating the message format from their program. They seem genuinely excited about a new app that they want me to install on all of my devices, replacing the current system of “private” conversation between account holders. I fail to share their enthusiasm. There are already several methods of communicating with my friends privately in place. Not the least of which, of course, being the phone. 

A highlight of their new system is people who are not “friends” can still contact one another. I do recall a database which provided that service to the average user. It was called a phone book. But I digress.

I decided to do fb a favor and delete all the messages stored in my account. Once I accessed the database, I found conversations dating back to 2009. Yes, five year old messages.

[sarcasm]To my surprise, no “Select All” option existed[/sarcasm]. Instead, I would be made to go through each individual line of each individual conversation and select “Delete”. Individually.

 

Since this is the manner Facebook utilizes for every single one of its account holders, I understand their need to create a new database format. The more obvious reason for creating a new messaging system however, would be to extend yet another advertising tendril into my social life. By “my social life” of course, I mean, all of ours (Google already has us pretty well wrapped up in that department). Therefore, it is my decision to decline the “new app”.

Should anyone need to contact me (in private), then they should know the half dozen means by which to do so. I'm afraid the new Facebook messaging app will not be one of them.

***

Update:

Since posting this article, new information has come to my attention. I chose not to accept the app sight unseen, so I did not reach the point of their “Terms and Conditions”. Fortunately Sam Fiorella, of Huff Post blog, did that for us. If you are one of the 1,000,000,000 who have downloaded this app, here's what you've agreed to:

·         Messenger can make a phone call without your “intervention”

·         Messenger can record your phone calls without your “intervention”

·         Messenger can read your contact list without your “intervention”

·         Messenger can send a text message without your “intervention”

·         Messenger can read your text messages without your “intervention”

·         Messenger can read your personal profile and send it to others without your “intervention”

·         Messenger can obtain other accounts you have set up on your phone without your “intervention”

You can read Sam Fiorella”s article here: The Insidiousness of Facebook Messenger's Mobile App Terms of Service. But, personally, had I downloaded Messenger, I delete it first, before doing anything else.

That is, if you're allowed to.

Facebook Strikes Again

Facebook Strikes Again

I'm a realist. One life lesson I've imparted to my children is "Privacy is a thing of the past. Deal with it." I still take the precautions I can, but the entities have their way around our paltry, pitiful defenses. I still try to make it a little difficult for them. So, when I get those messages about how the corporations and/or government is monitoring us, all I can do is shrug.

This morning I read an article in USA Today advising five things to do on your facebook page for your privacy's sake. The first was clearing all your searches, and that made perfect sense to me. So I decided to check it out. The first item became the first problem. The article explains how to go to the activity log and clear all the searches so fb won't have this info to sell to their advertisers. The problem? The referenced "Clear All Searches" under "Activity Log" doesn't exist on my page. Instead, I can only access one item at a time and unlike, thereby removing it from my timeline.

I wonder, was the author wrong, or has the machination of facebook already covered their loss of information by simply removing one option? Do you have any idea how many posts you've liked? Check it out under Activity Log. I bet it's a bunch. I'd be sitting here all day doing that. I pretty sure fb was counting on that.

Here's a link for you to try your hand at thwarting the monster. 5 Facebook Tweaks to Make Right Now -
(http://usat.ly/PqNLL

Re-elect NO One

Did you vote for ObamaCare? Hmm...Neither did I. We were never given the opportunity. Whether for or against, up or down, is irrelevant. We don't get to say.

We don't get a voice."'WE THE PEOPLE" now do what we're told.

Here's an idea I'd love to spread.

Have signs/banners made declaring 'RE-ELECT NO ONE' and post them in our yards every election until each and every one of these bozo's (Dems and GOP's) are gone. Let's see how an entirely new Senate/Congress might work out.

Just a thought...are you with me?

Facebook vs Privacy

Facebook vs Privacy

by JL Mo

A friend on facebook posted a query asking how to make a page private. This got me to thinking; after all of the information regarding Snowden and the NSA, does anyone really believe there’s privacy?

Because, no. There is not.

You cannot make facebook, or any other website, totally private. It is digitally impossible. If it's on the net (fb, twitter, email, dropbox, flickr, whatever) it can be copied, pasted, shared by whoever has the ability to access it. And that is a lot of people.

Accept that first.

I’m not telling you to not put anything out there. There are moments you want to share with your closest friends. Or your sister. Or your brother. Or hell, even your mom.

Post those moments and let the whole world smile with you. Because that is a possible scenario.

But there are other moments you only want to share with your lover. Or your co-conspirator. Hard and fast Rule Number One, “If you don't want others to see it (parents, friends, good guys, bad guys) don't put it on the web!” Yes, that means your iPhone, too.

That being said, I’ll offer this small piece of advice for non-savvy facebook users. Look at the top right side of your fb screen, where the dark blue line is. There are tabs there. Among them, you'll see an icon that looks like a lock with stripes on one side. That's your Privacy Settings. Click that and the dropdown box will offer, “See More Settings” at the bottom of the list. Don’t glaze over yet, because here you will find a gold mine of useful tools.

Privacy Settings and Tools

Who can see my stuff?

Who can see your future posts?

Use Activity Log

Review all your posts and things you're tagged in

Limit Past Posts

Limit the audience for posts you've shared with friends of friends or Public?

Who can contact me?

Who can send you friend requests?

Whose messages do I want filtered into my Inbox?

Who can look me up?

Who can look you up using the email address or phone number you provided?

Do you want other search engines to link to your timeline?

Explore it. Use it. For a least a small level of security, check it every day. Set a timer to remind yourself if you must. Just Use It.

Then, enjoy sharing on facebook. Just accept the fact that someone else is always watching.

The Bank

Today at my bank login page I was instructed to go through (another) security setup. You know, for my protection. Again.

So, the end of the form reaches the “Security Questions”. The text reads, “We will only ask these questions if additional information is necessary to verify your identity. Are you ready for Question One?

“What is your greatest fear?”

OH. MY. GOD. I don’t give anyone that information. What makes The Bank think I would tell them?

Perhaps it’s a test for just how deep they can rob me of my privacy. Just how much information will I give away?

What did I answer? NUNYA