Facebook shuts down application over privacy

Facebook: Lacks application
Facebook: Lacks application

Facebook has closed down another of its most popular third-party applications following privacy violations.

The social networking site has rapidly become one of the most popular internet destinations in the UK, although questions have been asked about privacy issues surrounding both the sheer level of personal data and third party add-ons.

Facebook has already been forced to pull another application, Top Friends, after user details were intercepted by a hacker, and now the Social Hi app has run into the same problem.

The Information Commisioner's Office has already confirmed to New Media Age that it will be meeting Facebook UK to discuss the implications of the Top Friends leak.

Although Facebook warns users about using third party applications, the viral way in which they spread through the network and the amount of information, including photos, that people are prepared to place on their personal pages, creates a dangerous temptation for hackers.

Aside from the nefarious manner in which people's personal photos can be repurposed by adult sites, the spectre of identity theft looms large with dates of birth and email addresses available in unprotected personal pages.

Even in more private accounts breaches such as the Top Friends incident happen, and most experts would agree that the best way to keep your personal data from getting into the wrong hands is to not post it on social networking sites.

Patrick Goss

Patrick Goss is the ex-Editor in Chief of TechRadar. Patrick was a passionate and experienced journalist, and he has been lucky enough to work on some of the finest online properties on the planet, building audiences everywhere and establishing himself at the forefront of digital content.  After a long stint as the boss at TechRadar, Patrick has now moved on to a role with Apple, where he is the Managing Editor for the App Store in the UK.