Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Online activists hijack Facebook groups
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Online activists hijack Facebook groups
AFP - Wednesday, November 11
Send
IM Story
Print
The logo of social networking website 'Facebook' is displayed on a computer screen. Activists claimed on Tuesday to have seized control of nearly 300 Facebook community groups in a self-proclaimed effort to expose how vulnerable online reputations are to tampering.
Slideshow: Full Photo Coverage: Internet Portals & Search Engines
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - – Activists claimed on Tuesday to have seized control of nearly 300 Facebook community groups in a self-proclaimed effort to expose how vulnerable online reputations are to tampering.
A contingent that identified itself as Control Your Info (CYI) claimed credit for commandeering 289 Facebook Groups, saying it was simple to get into poorly protected administrative settings at the website.
"This is just one example that really shows the vulnerabilities of social media," said a blog post at controlyour.info.
"If you chose to express yourself on the Internet, make sure the expressions are your own and not a spammers. This isn't some kind of scare tactic, nor is it a hack, it's a feature that can be used, and is being used, in bad ways."
CYI claimed its motives were pure and that the move was more of a "take-over" than a computer hack of Facebook groups.
Facebook Groups are themed chat venues that users of the social networking service can join to socialize online with people who share interests.
"Facebook Groups suffer from a major flaw," said a message on the CYI blog.
"If an administrator of a group leaves, anyone can register as a new admin. So, in order to take control of a Facebook group, all you really have to do is a quick search on Google."
Once CYI accessed groups as administrators it had authority to change anything, including pictures, descriptions and settings.
CYI fired off messages to the groups telling them they had been "hijacked" and the justification for the attacks. CYI rechristened each group with its name and logo.
CYI promised to restore the violated groups to their original conditions after it makes its point.
"Our main goal is to draw attention to questions concerning online privacy awareness," CYI said. "People have even lost their jobs over Facebook content. We wanted to do something about this."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
New York Times publishes 'crowd-funded' article AFP - Wednesday, November 11
US-TECH Summary Reuters - Wednesday, November 11
Chicago court OKs $10 refunds for ringtones, games Reuters - Wednesday, November 11
Google launches online flu shot finder AFP - Wednesday, November 11
Online activists hijack Facebook groups AFP - Wednesday, November 11
News Search
Top Stories
Mixed figures on China's economy
Ex-Bear Stearns managers cleared in Wall St case
France cornered amid EU deficits charge
Antarctica's ice loss helps offset global warming: study
Goldman Sachs chief defends pay policies
More Top Stories »
Related Full Coverage
Internet Portals & Search EnginesLatest development in the online world
All Full Coverage »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Maclaren buggies recalled in US over 'lost fingers'
Britney 'upset' over Aussie lip-synching row: promoter
Antarctica's ice loss helps offset global warming: study
Kraft Foods launches hostile Cadbury bid
Barclays says profits slump as bad debts mount
More Most Viewed »
Somali centenarian weds 17-year-old
Mobile phone giant Nokia sues Apple over patents
Fibre may keep asthma, diabetes at bay, study finds
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Wednesday, 11 November 2009 Israeli general says readying all options on Iran
Palestinian vote, Abbas threat might be a bluff
| International
|
Emerging markets to spearhead recovery: HSBC
US-TECH Summary
British bank Lloyds says to cut 5,000 jobs
Ben Affleck Films PSA For Paralyzed Veterans Of America
Justin Timberlake Granted Permanent Restraining Order Against Female Stalker
Lethal Kalashnikov designer is now Russia's hero
| International
|
Britain offers land to help Cyprus talks, U.N. says
| International
|
Israeli general says readying all options on Iran
| International
|
Prosecutors start grilling Taylor at U.N. trial
| International
|
Russia's Medvedev replaces Yeltsin-era governor
| International
|
Surprising rebel attack kills 9 Colombian soldiers
| International
|
White House: Obama eyeing host of Afghan choices
Woman drives into aquarium at Tampa airport
Mother tried to shield baby in fatal SC shootings
Gunman at upstate NY school surrenders to police
Suicide car bomb kills 32 in Pakistan market: officials
Police arrest 6 protesters at Lieberman's office
Military families head to Ft. Hood for ceremony
Navies of 2 Koreas exchange fire near border
Federal judge nixes SC license tag with cross
Singapore hails 'breakthrough' summit with US, Myanmar
Feds bust ATM hacking ring accused of stealing $9M
Report predicts extreme weather on China's Yangtze
N.Korea boat in flames after naval clash: Seoul officials
Prosecutors: SC trio promised unrealistic returns
US warns North Korea after naval clash
Housing plan reaches 1 in 5 borrowers
Japan police arrest suspect in British woman's murder
Marine base debate opens rift in US-Japan ties
Indonesia officer says boss fabricated evidence
India bans dismantling of toxic US ship
APEC looking to Asia to help keep recovery going
Georgia steps up efforts to woo foreign filmmakers
Lindsay Lohan tie up with Ungaro 'a disaster'
China chip maker to pay $200 mln to settle TSMC claims
Report: Toyota plans to shut 300 dealers in Japan
Japan tells Geithner Tokyo supports strong dollar
Pakistani stocks end lower; rupee firms
Philippines makes biggest ever rice tender
Unusual 17th century play critical of men sold
Iraq touts for tourists at London fair
British designer Luella Bartley stops trading
Up looks aloft, hopes for best picture Oscar
| Entertainment
|
Rihanna talks about breaking down and her new CD
Star Trek creator to enter TV Hall of Fame
| Entertainment
|
Gheorghe Dinica, well-known Romanian actor, dies
Israeli snow brings early winter to Austrian ski resort
Iran's Kiarostami, Tanavoli exhibit in Dubai
World tourism body sees recovery next year
`Glee' wheelchair episode hits bump with disabled
Georgia steps up efforts to woo foreign filmmakers
Protests at Prince Charles, Camilla Montreal visit
Outrage over vaccine for Afghan detainees
France cornered amid EU deficits charge
Peres: Brazil needs loud voice against terror
Adobe cutting 680 jobs
Goldman Sachs chief defends pay policies
U.S. says Iran shipped arms to Lebanese fighters
| International
|
Twitter links to LinkedIn
Apple becomes top phone maker by profits: research
Blackwater approved payments in Iraq shooting
US-TECH Summary
Mixed figures on China's economy
Washington lt. gov's son released from hospital
San Francisco supes overturn veto of sanctuary law
Ex-Bear Stearns managers cleared in Wall St case
Antarctica's ice loss helps offset global warming: study
Taiwan's Ma treads carefully in forging China ties
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
Former rape suspect says he tried to help victim
Google launches online flu shot finder
Online activists hijack Facebook groups
Chicago court OKs $10 refunds for ringtones, games
| Technology
|
Eager fans greet "Call of Duty" video game launch
Sniper who terrorized Washington area is executed
US, ASEAN to tell Myanmar to hold 'credible' polls
Amnesty denounces China executions
Apple tops phone chart as Nokia, Samsung step up
| Technology
|
Cambodia rebuffs Thaksin extradition request
NZ cbank says kiwi too strong, hinders recovery
China gets rail project as leader visits Malaysia
Cambodia refuses Thaksin extradition: AFP reporter
Indonesia police faked evidence on graft fighter: witness
Lopez Tonight debuts with strong ratings
| Entertainment
|
Jackson private funeral costs: roughly $1 million
New George Lopez talk show overplays race angle
| Entertainment
|
Reggaeton singer Daddy Yankee taking music classes
Man presses $400 billion lawsuit against Bon Jovi
| Entertainment
|
Man presses $400 billion lawsuit against Bon Jovi
Australia's Molik to make WTA comeback in Hobart
S.Korea military on alert after naval clash
Sri Lanka's boat people: Dying to strike it rich
New York Times publishes 'crowd-funded' article
Chicago court OKs $10 refunds for ringtones, games
Amazon delivers Kindle books to PCs
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights