Why is everybody in a flap about facebook security?

There have been many articles in the newspapers and online recently about the security implications of putting too much personal information on "social networking" site, Facebook.

There was one instance of an employee declaring his love for a colleague on a friends "wall" only for the object of his affections to see it and subsequently use that information in a possible sexual harassment case.

Then there was the report that the head honchos at the Oxford University are spying on their students antics at parties with the aim to confront and discipline those who's behavior were considered out of line.

Although there is much to be said about the dubious morality of the type of people who spy on friends, colleagues and future employees; fundamentally the "victims" of this form of cyber stalking really have only themselves to blame.

"Why?" I hear some of you ask... Well, to be frank the reason these "victims" are too blame is because they have chosen to share there personal information, photos and banter with complete strangers!

"How?" I hear some of you ask... Well, either directly or through naivety; by overriding the default security settings Facebook recommend, or posting inadvisable things on other friends profiles.

The standard security settings on a Facebook account only allow "friends" to view your personal profile and associated content. That means only people you accept as friends can view your private stuff. You actually have to manually turn that security option off by clicking several boxes to allow strangers to view your profile!

In my opinion if you do that you are opening yourself up for any number of nut-jobs, nosey parkers or trouble makers to use your private information for their own personal gain.

So how do you stop strangers seeing your personal information?

1. First thing is to leave the security settings for who can view your profile at the default options: Only allow legitimate friends access.
2. Be careful what you post on other peoples walls as they might not be as security conscious as you; they may allow anybody to view their profile including your nosey boss whom you happened to call a "bunny-boiling bitch" on your friends wall!
3. Tun off the option in your security/privacy settings that allow strangers to view you friends list... again this stops nosey parkers trying to find comments you've made on a friends less secure profile.

The lather the press has got into about Facebook is completely unwarranted, in the right hands and with the right amount of common sense it is a great tool to keep in touch with mates online.

Just be careful out there...

... or if you are really into conspiracies watch this *warning it might put you off Facebook for life*