Re facebook: is this true?!

[Flimflammery]

"Also remember that facebook remembers:

• every other person that you search for on FB, and may at any time tell them you were looking.
• while you are logged in, every other web site that you visit and any web searches that you do."

where does it say that

A poster in another thread - sorry can't find it, it's just slipped off 'active' - about 'I've just joined fb'.

It doesn't tell them you're looking, but it might suggest you as a friend to them if you aren't already (although there are other reasons to suggest you too, like having mutual friends).

It can follow you round other sites if they integrate with Facebook, like ones that offer you the option to log in using your Facebook profile, or to 'like' or share something. But not in general.

Facebook also follows you around the web when you're not logged in. If you use Firefox or Chrome you can install Ghostery as an add-on which stops tracking cookies.

... or just not use FaceBook :)

Just out of interest, I assume using Firefox in "Private Browsing" mode doesn't stop any tracking (on the assumption cookies make it possible, while 'private browsing' seems mostly to stop the 'history' in the browser from logging site visits).

I got an email from facebook telling me that 2 'friends' had booked holidays through tripadvisor.

Bit invasive, i thought. Why should i want to know?

You're right NetworkGuy, it doesn't stop the cookies but deletes them after you stop browsing. I use Ghostery, and just block any cookies it detects.

"Bit invasive, i thought. Why should i want to know?"

'Cos TripAdvisor is paying them, perhaps. Fact that they are known to you might sway you, if you "value" the choices of your "friends".

I just hope they don't give the dates of their holidays online, and leave themselves open to burglars though.

I suppose it can work, if you have a small number of friends and you also think whatever service / site is reputable. It can, of course, give a negative view of the company (and / or of FaceBook ) for using such methods, if you consider it a breach of privacy.

Wasn't it FaceBook which once divulged items being bought by friends (and thus spoiling a number of birthday "surprises") ?

Lucky for me any mail from FaceBook (or supposedly from FaceBook) gets thrown in Spam by GMail...

Facebook use at least two cookies that follow you around the web even if you're not logged in. Facebook Connect and Facebook Social Plugin. Twitter have a few too, but Ghostery will block them.

I tried the Facebook Disconnect plugin for Firefox but couldn't get it to work.

I do use HTTPS Everywhere to try to keep my browsing more private. Not that I have owt to be ashamed of.

Just spotted and blocked another Facebook one: Facebook Social Graph.

Does that apply if you're using fb on your phone too? App or just on the phone browser. I can't believe I didn't know this!

Theremay be something similar, but of course when you are using any App on a phone, you are at the mercy of the App writer as to what it does (unfortunately).