Get the latest headlines each day:
Wired Campus e-newsletter | RSS

In the Comments

You have to learn to let go. The idea that books, magazines, databases or any form of information source can and should be kept for perpetuity is laughable. Items in a library need to be weeded and space is the major reason why. I know all of you want to keep your precious books, and I do to. But who’s going to pay for it, you?... — the other me

Library Protesters to Ohio State U.: Digital's OK, but Save Our Books!

Recent Posts

Submit to Wired Campus
Tell us about stories we should be covering, and what you don't like.

Wired Campus Writers

Categories

November 26, 2008

Web Service Uses Security Questions to Protect Information on Facebook

In order to read this blog you must first answer the following security question:

What is the name of my family’s dog?

A new web service, Friendbo, offers to pose a similar question — one which only you and select group of friends know — to anyone who seeks to view information you post on your blog, or on sites like Facebook and YouTube. The more people learn about you, the more access they’ll have.

A group of faculty and students at the University of Washington is workingto demonstrate how the application can be used to protect data on Facebook profiles. The researchers hope Friendbo will better protect the privacy of Facebook users and make sharing information online more natural.

Managing blacklists and whitelists can lead to awkward situations. For example, “a father might want to boastingly show his kid’s soccer photos at work,” Friendbo’s Web site says, “but his coworker might not feel comfortable asking ‘can I have access to the private photos of your children?’” New friends naturally learn more information about each other over time, the site adds, so acquaintances can be granted improved access without effort.

Users can create questions only their friends might know or ones only their family members can answer. And Friendbo can also “record and display successful accessors to the sharer, creating a social disincentive to guessing,” according to the site. —David DeBolt

Comments

1. This is minblowing…a lot of interesting stuff..which you never think about once you open a site such as Facebook—the security measures and information exchanged.

   — Colette Martin    Dec 1, 03:32 AM    #

2. So only a true diehard stalker will be able to read your stuff. I think this gives people an additional false sense of security rather than educating them about what is approriate to post online and what isn’t.

   — John who is not an expert on anything    Dec 1, 09:22 AM    #

3. I think this is great. Another tool, apparently user-friendly, to help people manage their cyber-risk and security as well as maybe educate that risk and privacy is a continuum, not an absolute.
   Yes, John, I agree, it can give a false sense of security. So can air bags, but should we not have started using them?

   — TfjTolson    Dec 1, 05:21 PM    #

4. tobeagoodmixerwithotherboys <a href=” http://christmas-4few.12gbfree.com/ “>animated box christmas music</a> 023005

   — animated box christmas music    Dec 1, 09:57 PM    #

5. GREAT Website, I want more updatesFeel Free To Comment Back, Thanks <a href=” http://christmas-5few.12gbfree.com/ “>cartoon christmas tree picture</a> 8-DD

   — cartoon christmas tree picture    Dec 2, 01:25 AM    #

6. Goodforyou! <a href=” http://tyrkey1from.12gbfree.com/ “>country of turkey</a> 8-OO

   — country of turkey    Dec 2, 04:45 AM    #

7. Have you seen this site? <a href=” http://tyrkey2from.12gbfree.com/ “>eastern turkey travel</a> 682019

   — eastern turkey travel    Dec 2, 08:01 AM    #

8. You Must See This <a href=” http://tyrkey3from.12gbfree.com/ “>game online shoot turkey</a> 5925

   — game online shoot turkey    Dec 2, 11:23 AM    #

9. Also Check This Wonderful Site, Very Helpfull <a href=” http://tyrkey4from.12gbfree.com/ “>holiday villa turkey</a> 09745

   — holiday villa turkey    Dec 2, 02:21 PM    #

10. tocomeinhandy <a href=” http://turkey4is.12gbfree.com/ “>gas grill recipe turkey</a> duit

    — gas grill recipe turkey    Dec 3, 06:57 AM    #

11. You Really Have To Look At This SiteYou Have To Check This Crazy Site <a href=” http://turkey5is.12gbfree.com/ “>konya turkey map</a> 314

    — konya turkey map    Dec 3, 11:00 AM    #

12. Just Look Here For a Sec, ImpressiveHello! <a href=” http://flag5best.freehost10.com/ “>checkered flag picture</a> 8-]

    — checkered flag picture    Dec 4, 05:02 AM    #

13. I have a Really amazing site herePleasure to look at your site

    — bill o reilly christmas    Dec 16, 03:07 PM    #

14. Inearlydroppeddead

    — Dandre    Dec 17, 06:23 PM    #

15. You Really Helped Me With The DetailsAbsolutly incredible

    — Jacob    Dec 18, 04:25 AM    #

16. Everytime i go here im excitedThank You Very Much For Showing This Info, <a href=” http://new5year.freewebhosting360.com/ “>chinese new year firework</a>, =((, <a href=” http://www.santa409.happyhost.org/ “>california hotel maria santa</a>, :-),

    — chinese new year firework    Dec 18, 10:09 PM    #

Commenting is closed for this article.

Previous: Penn State Turns to the Internet to Explain Loss of Campus Trees
Next: New European Digital Library Proves Too Popular