To FB or Not To FB, That is the Question...

Here's part of the header for my Facebook timeline.

Lately, I've read a lot about Facebook and the problems facing both the company and the website users.  I wonder if I really want to maintain a Facebook account, given the continually changing security, advertising schemes, and odd "experiments" such as Facebook asking people to rat out their friends.  I decided that I need to look at this entire problem in a new light, so  I am creating a list of pros and cons.

Pros for Staying at Facebook:

• My lovely friends and family - I have a LOT of friends and family on Facebook, mostly people who I want to keep in touch with, but who I would not be connected to otherwise.
• My Blog - Facebook allows me to publicize my blog and (hopefully) the novel I'll be publishing next year.
• My Writing - Covered in my blog.
• We Grok - I started a small company where I help people with social media.  I think I need to stay on Facebook if I want to sound and be authentic.
• Cobb County School District Unofficial Community Page - I started this page for residents in Cobb County to discuss the school district.  I love reading people's different opinions and views on local topics.

Cons for Staying at Facebook:

• Security - Facebook sucks at security in general.  No, they are not the worst company in history, nor are they the best when it comes to keeping their users' information private.  
• Changing notifications - Facebook keeps changing notifications on a random basis.  I dislike the random nature of the changes the most, because I never know when a change occurred until I discover that someone sent me a message that I never received.
• Snitches - Facebook did an "experiment" for a few months where they asked people to verify the real names of their friends.  
• More Snitches - People have been using Facebook to "tattle" on their friends in real life.  I realize that Facebook cannot control this behavior, but I still find it repulsive.
• TMI - This acronym stands for "too much information", and sometimes that's how I feel about Facebook.  
• Trolls, Trolls, and more Trolls - I find more trolls on Facebook that anywhere else.  If you don't agree with my opinion, either learn to say so nicely or just keep your mouth shut.

Laid out like this, I realize that I will stay on Facebook, regardless of the security problems, TMI, and trolls. It all boils down to the people in my life.  I have too many family members who use Facebook, too many high school and university friends, and too many people I know in Marietta to let the cons keep me away.  Of course, if everyone wants to move to Google Plus, I'd be willing to friend you there. :-)

Watch Out! The Twitter Virus Wants You!

This weekend, I received a direct message through Twitter from a friend of mine.  "Wow!  I guess you didn't realize that they were watching you. {insert URL} " read the generic but intriguing message.  But when I clicked the link, the URL first went to Facebook, then to a copycat Facebook page with a different URL.

Ugh!  I had just been targeted by the Twitter Virus!!!

This particular virus sends direct messages from a Twitter account to people who follow that account, telling the recepient that he or she appears in an interesting video.  The message also helpfully includes a link to the suspect video.  But the video link goes to an imitation Facebook page where you are prompted to enter your Facebook login information.   Also, as soon as you click the link, the virus begins trolling your followers list, resending itself to continue the hack.

If you get one of these messages, DO NOT OPEN THE LINK.  I would also let the sender know that their Twitter account seems to be hacked.  That's how I found out later that my Twitter account was hacked - a very nice person told me about a message that I supposedly sent them.

If you do click on the link or your Twitter account is otherwise hacked, I suggest you take the following steps:

1. Change your Twitter and/or Facebook passwords.
2. Delete any direct messages that contain the virus sent from your Twitter account.
3. Check any application linked to through Twitter.  Do you recognize all of them?  Do any of them use the same password?  If so, change the password.
4. Check any application linked to through Facebook.  Do you recognize all of them?  Do any of them use the same password?  If so, change the password.
5. Change the password on any account that shares the same password as Twitter or Facebook.
6. Check your Facebook security settings to ensure that nothing has changed.
7. Run a virus scan of your computer.