Thursday February 24, 2011
I hate to admit, but I was hacked on Facebook this afternoon.
When free swag like a Southwest Airlines ticket giveaway beckons on your favorite social networking sites, chances are it is to really too good to be true. And yet, yours truly was duped. Fortunately, I was not alone this time.
In a new twist for a Facebook scam, the Southwest Airlines hack actually appeared as comments on friend's Wall posts and Notes, making the hack seem even more legit than would naturally appear in your status messages.
Etiquette Rules for Hacked Facebook Accounts
But, what should you do if your account is hacked? As embarrassing as getting scammed is, Facebook users have an obligation to protect those they are connected with. Just follow these simple etiquette rules:
1. Warn Others. As soon as you realize you have been scammed, a good rule of thumb would be to post a status message to that effect, warning other users of any malicious links sent from your account.
1. Change Your Password. Immediately go into "Account Settings," located in the top, right-hand corner, and change your password. This often prevents continued scam posts from being made from your account.
3. Remove the Link. Whether the link is on your Wall or reproduced across many, attempt to delete every link you can find posted from your account. Your Facebook Wall will show you where the links have been posted.
4. Share Fixes. As you reach out to remove and prevent spreading the Facebook scam, the potential is good at least one or two friends will become a victim. If you learn of a new way to remove a spam application or reverse any adverse effects, make sure to let your friends know, either individually, or via Wall post.
--Brandon De Hoyos, Guide to IM
Sunday February 20, 2011
Today's social networking spotlight for the 2011 About.com Reader's Choice Awards is Best Social Network Messaging, as being measured now over at the Email site here on About.
In this category, five finalists for this award vie for the title for best social networking messaging. But, in your opinion, which is the best?
→ Vote Now - Readers' Choice Awards Ballot
→ The Finalists - Best Social Network Messaging
About the Finalists
1. Facebook Messages: Combining email, Facebook Chat IMs, and your inbox messages, Facebook Messages is quickly becoming the go-to place to communicate for many on the web.
2. Twitter Messages: Private messaging between Twitter users makes the microblogging site a little more personal, according to those who tweet.
3. MySpace Mail: Like Facebook, MySpace Mail allows users to send and receive email to your own MySpace email account, in addition to exchange messages through the social network.
4. Orkut Scraps: Whether you want to post publicly or send in private, multimedia and text messages are sent simply using Orkut's messaging platform.
5. LinkedIn Inbox: For the business-savvy, this social network for business also includes a messaging feature to share your job openings, industry news and just chat with others on LinkedIn.
→ Vote Now - Readers' Choice Awards Ballot
The voting period for this and all categories of the 2011 About.com Readers' Choice Awards ends at midnight on March 8, 2011. Winners in each category will then be announced on March 15.
--Brandon De Hoyos, Guide to IM
Thursday February 17, 2011
The 2011 About.com Reader's Choice Awards are already in full swing, and this year, a number of categories feature social networking sites as finalists. Today, we focus on the Best User Scripts as featured on this year's Readers' Choice Awards ballot from the Web Browsers site.
In this category, four of the finalists for this award focus on social networking, from Facebook walls to Mafia Wars. But, which is best? Vote Now:
Choose the Best User Script of 2011
View Results
About the Finalists
1. Better Facebook: This web browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera and Greasemonkey adds a number of great features to Facebook, including tabbed news feeds, profile skins, feed filters and more.
2. Facebook Feed Filter: Bored with a friend's endless wall posts? The Facebook Feed Filter allows users to manage the feeds they see (and more importantly, don't want to see!) from an easy-to-use browser script.
3. FBMafiaWars Addon: Want to become a Mafia boss the old way? Fuhgeddaboudit! Instead, this web browser script makes Facebook's Mafia Wars easier with automated actions, meaning you can climb the crime family ladder in your sleep.
4. GoogleFX: Need an answer or resource quick? If Google isn't fast enough, GoogleFX delivers the search results you need with lightning speed and expert help to find exactly what you are looking for.
5. PS Wall Scrubber: Auto-accept gifts and requests from Mafia Wars and Farmville with this simple user script.
The voting period for this and all categories of the 2011 About.com Readers' Choice Awards ends at midnight on March 8, 2011. Winners in each category will then be announced on March 15.
--Brandon De Hoyos, Guide to IM
Tuesday January 25, 2011
This morning, 83rd Academy Awards nominees were announced in Los Angeles, Calif., with The King's Speech topping the year's most nominated films.
Meanwhile, the Aaron Sorkin semi-biographical The Social Network, which documents the rise of Facebook and its founder Mark Zuckerberg, walked away with an impressive eight nominations in its own right.
Personally, I really liked The Social Network, and think it is deserving of its Best Picture nomination; Jesse Eisenberg's Best Actor nod is also deserved, even if his portrayal of Zuckerberg is questionable.
What do you think? Did you like The Social Network, and do you think it has the potential to walk away with a statue for Best Picture?
--Brandon De Hoyos, Guide to IM
