Ask a Social Network Security Manager anything

32 Questions

Last Answer on December 02, 2013

Did you cringe when social networks first started allowing developers to launch applications on-site? Is this the kind of thing that just unleashed an avalanche of new security headaches for you?

Asked by ez duz it almost 14 years ago

Hey Ed Duz, You would think that would be a huge issue, and we thought it would be, too. But! It didn't - by that time, everyone was extra security conscious about what kind of issues apps could lead to. Almost overly cautious. So because of that, apps ended up being the least of our concerns. It was built in a way that it was very 'gated'. The apps were heavily reviewed for security and content issues before being authorized, and it was very easy to deactivate them in the event there was an issue. Honestly, I can't think of any major app related security or safety concern that came up. I think there was a content issue or two (ie a picture of boobies being distributed by an app) but that was about it. At least or our site! But I have been following all other major sites and haven't seen any issues, either.

1190 Votes

Do you think Facebook is out of line regarding user privacy, or do they have the right to do whatever they want? Not from a strictly legal point of view because we all agreed to their terms of use but how about re: corporate responsibility?

Asked by france_sucks over 13 years ago

I think FB has definitely made a few things fairly concerning with user privacy and their oddly shifting security settings on their products. Half of me sides with the viewpoint that 'it's their website, they can do what they want, and nothing you post on the internet is truly private or sacred anyawys' and the other half is reviled and would leave FB if I wasn't so heavily integrated with it for my social life (haha).

Ultimately, companies are companies and they are out to make a buck. It's up to the end user to decide how comfortable they are with information about themselves being shared/distributed/etc.

1188 Votes

If you identify a hacker or spammer and block him, what's to stop him from just creating another account? And another, and another, and another...

Asked by Zucktown almost 14 years ago

Hey Zucktown, Good question. Generally spammers are automated systems that are coming in from a certain IP address/block of IP addresses (*cough* China *cough*) or mass posting very similar types of content. Based on various factors, you can either prevent account creation and/or certain types of content being posted. If an individual hacker is targeting a very specific individual, that is a bit tougher. We try to educate users on account security - so be wary of phishing, don't have a password of 'Password' (this happens more than you know) or name your password after your cat (a friend of mine got his account 'hacked' by his ex-girlfriend. Turns out his password was his cat's name. #fail).

1184 Votes

Do you remember Bebo? Were you working at a social network when it was sold for $850M, and what were insiders saying about it at the time?

Asked by katbo almost 14 years ago

BEBO!!! Blast from the past! If I recall, I always considered that a social network for 'young kids' (or people from another country). Do you mean $580MM? In that case, maybe. ;) Or please let me know which one sold for $850, I'm trying to jog my memory and can't recall who was in that range at the time.

1183 Votes

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When you first started this job, were you braced for all of the nasty stuff you encountered? Or was there a time in the beginning where you thought, "I had no idea people could be THIS messed up?"

Asked by S.D. Jones over 13 years ago

When I started the job, I was only focusing on security issues (vulnerabilities, attackers, etc). I had no idea I'd go down the path of pedophiles, law enforcement issues, insane profiles, nutjob users, and content that you just can't un-see once it's seen. I had already been online for MANY many years (back in newsgroup days) so I already had a pretty strong inkling of the stuff out there. ;)

1177 Votes

Well i got a call saying i won a grant for 9000 i have to pay 310 for processing fee at western union how do i know if it for real

Asked by rebecca over 12 years ago

It is definitely not real. I can tell you that right now. Anything involving 'instant money' or 'too good to be true' plus a pairing of ANY type of Western Union "processing fee" is definitely a scam.

Check out Western Union's page on Fraud Types to learn more:

http://www.westernunion.com/fraudtypes

1170 Votes

I know Facebook says it's not possible to see who's viewed your profile. But is the "who's viewed your profile" information stored anywhere, such that a hacker could find and distribute it?

Asked by mealtik almost 14 years ago

I wouldn't worry about that. But clever people with their own web server logs could see what IP addresses look at their profile. ;-)

1150 Votes

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Social Network Security Manager

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Did you cringe when social networks first started allowing developers to launch applications on-site? Is this the kind of thing that just unleashed an avalanche of new security headaches for you?

Do you think Facebook is out of line regarding user privacy, or do they have the right to do whatever they want? Not from a strictly legal point of view because we all agreed to their terms of use but how about re: corporate responsibility?

If you identify a hacker or spammer and block him, what's to stop him from just creating another account? And another, and another, and another...

Do you remember Bebo? Were you working at a social network when it was sold for $850M, and what were insiders saying about it at the time?

Also on Jobstr...

When you first started this job, were you braced for all of the nasty stuff you encountered? Or was there a time in the beginning where you thought, "I had no idea people could be THIS messed up?"

Well i got a call saying i won a grant for 9000 i have to pay 310 for processing fee at western union how do i know if it for real

I know Facebook says it's not possible to see who's viewed your profile. But is the "who's viewed your profile" information stored anywhere, such that a hacker could find and distribute it?

Social Network Security Manager

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Did you cringe when social networks first started allowing developers to launch applications on-site? Is this the kind of thing that just unleashed an avalanche of new security headaches for you?

Do you think Facebook is out of line regarding user privacy, or do they have the right to do whatever they want? Not from a strictly legal point of view because we all agreed to their terms of use but how about re: corporate responsibility?

If you identify a hacker or spammer and block him, what's to stop him from just creating another account? And another, and another, and another...

Do you remember Bebo? Were you working at a social network when it was sold for $850M, and what were insiders saying about it at the time?

Also on Jobstr...

When you first started this job, were you braced for all of the nasty stuff you encountered? Or was there a time in the beginning where you thought, "I had no idea people could be THIS messed up?"

Well i got a call saying i won a grant for 9000 i have to pay 310 for processing fee at western union how do i know if it for real

I know Facebook says it's not possible to see who's viewed your profile. But is the "who's viewed your profile" information stored anywhere, such that a hacker could find and distribute it?

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