Security firm Sopho’s conducted a poll of over 4,000 users and reported that fewer than 8 percent of users liked the new forced change to Facebook. Another 8.4 percent reported that they would get used to it.
However 51.3 percent said that Timeline worried them, and 32.4 percent said they were asking why they were still using Facebook. This later group could possibly, been seen as responsible for the surge in use of Google+. -ed
The Timeline format replaced profiles and walls. It makes visible every status update, photo as well as makes it easily search-able. A bit too easy, say some. It has made it a nightmare for those with past indiscretions that were considered invisible.
The security implications is worrying according to Graham Cluley of Sopho’s.
“Facebook is encouraging users to enter even more personal details about themselves and their life experiences, and making it simpler for others to view the information,” he says.
“But might this not also make it even easier for identity thieves to put together a profile about an individual, discover the name of their first pet, and so forth? That’s all information which could be put to a nefarious use.”
Privacy rights advocates and Privacy protection agencies are calling for the FTC to step in and investigate Timeline, they are in favor of implementing it ONLY with and opt-in feature.
This Amid announcements, that Facebook may file for an IPO as early as Wednesday this week. This certainly could be a big week for company CEO and shareholders as they would become instant billionaires.
The social giant’s IPO could raise as much as $10 billion, with investment firms Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs as the lead underwriters, according to The Wall Street Journal. This would put the company’s valuation at approximately $75 to $100 billion, the highest IPO of any technology company in Silicon Valley history.
Sources: WSJ, Sophos, TGDaily, Wired