Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video, UPDATED)

Summary: Here's a pair of videos which show you how to lock down your FaceBook profile in 20 minutes or less.

By Jason Perlow for Tech Broiler | May 28, 2010 -- 10:09 GMT (03:09 PDT)

Follow @jperlow

[EDIT May 28, 2010: This article has been updated to reflect FaceBook's latest privacy changes.]

If you haven't already read my Lockdown or Death for Your FaceBook Profile article, here are two videos which guide you through the process of locking down a typical FaceBook account for increased privacy and user security.

Part 1: Clean Up your Profile and Remove Information

Part 2: Adjust your Privacy Settings (UPDATED)

Be advised in the videos that since this was a new "Demo" account your options may vary and your lock down process may be a little more complicated than what I have demonstrated. In which case, I suggest you look at the Gallery which details the settings you need to look at.

Also Read: Lockdown or Death for your FaceBook Profile: An Advanced User Guide to Social Networking Privacy

Also Read: Dear Facebook friends: I'm sorry, but I had to kill you

Have we missed any key settings or steps here? Talk Back and Let Me Know.

Topic: Social Enterprise

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31 comments

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OMG, is there no end to this FB security issue? (kidding)

nt

Dietrich T. Schmitz,Your Linux Advocate
9 May, 2010 13:16

Reply Vote
RE: Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)

Waiting for the trolls to show up asking "Jason, why don't you sell your computer and go live in a cave"... 3... 2... 1...

I will say this. Most of what's in this video should be common sense. It shouldn't be NECESSARY to make a video telling people they shouldn't be exposing their political views and their hobbies to anyone who can sleaze their way onto their friends list, or use an API call from a Facebook game to read their profile in detail. But I suppose it needs to be repeated over and over again until people get it.

Snark Shark
9 May, 2010 14:04

Reply Vote
RE: Great video for locking down FB!

Although I still use Facebook, I've deleted any applications that weren't necessary (games,etc). What I hate about it, is that they are constantly changing the setup and how you control your security. It sucks that they reset it to their own defaults when they do this. They know that once they have you in for the lock-in, that there is less chance of you wanting to leave FB and also that you are less likely to go back to redo the settings. Once you're connected to all your friends and comfortable. I like the video and don't understand why anyone wouldn't like it, unless they have a hidden agenda. I just know I'm not going to be hanging around much longer FB, once I get my Buzz working in Gmail the way I like it with all my friends. Then you won't see me hanging around Facebook like Shark Bait! <img border="0" src="http://www.cnet.com/i/mb/emoticons/wink.gif" alt="wink">

i2fun@...
9 May, 2010 15:39

Reply Vote
RE: Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)

Now you got posts by friends on your wall limited to "Only me" (who can see them). This (also) means (however) that friends cannot post to your wall. THIS is making the whole Facebook "experience" useless. I don't see how setting this option to "Only friends" makes it a little bit more locked-down.

23849759475
10 May, 2010 05:32

Reply Vote
- RE: Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)
  
  @23849759475
  
  In the Screen Shots I have it set to "Only my friends", I didn't catch this in the video until after I had uploaded it.
  
  jperlow
  10 May, 2010 11:38
  
  Reply Vote
RE: Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)

Why bother locking down Facebook when you can just dump Microsoft Windows like you did previously? After all, that was your solution to this whole mess. Since your not using Windows anymore there is no need to lock down Facebook. Hey, I'm just using your logic here.

Loverock Davidson
10 May, 2010 06:13

Reply Vote
RE: Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)

Wow! And I thought I had already locked down my profile? They must have added more optouts since I thought I had done that.

If you want to share how you think your info should or shouldn't be shared by Facebook and others, tell Comradity here: http://www.comradity.com/comradity/how-do-you-feel-about-sharing-your-information.html

We'll be sharing the results with the sponsor of the Internet Privacy bill, Rep. Rick Boucher.

Katherine Warman Kern
@comradity

Katherine Warman Kern
10 May, 2010 10:27

Reply Vote
RE: Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)

Now remind again why I would want to propogate my personal information to the rest of the world? Maybe if I want to deal with such trivial security problems which is more easily resolved by not being suckered into the "costs nothing" parade, the fact is such comapnies, regardless of their statet intent, cannot guarantee your privacy and as such is clearly noted in the usage agreement, more importantly is the indemnity clause which most people do not read. Now consider researching who their affiliates are, of which many may have access to your information for contacting you.

ryanstrassburg
10 May, 2010 11:59

Reply Vote
RE: Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)

Why do you JERKS keep posting all these articles making people all paranoid about who might see their beach vacation bikini pics... You are destroying one of my favorite things about Facebook: browsing albums full of hot girls on their vacations without needing to ask for their "friendship" first. Damn you!! :p

fibreoptik
10 May, 2010 12:17

Reply Vote
- RE: Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)
 
 @fibreoptik Trust me, theres plenty of great stuff on Flickr.
 
 jperlow
 10 May, 2010 15:44
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: LOL! Flickr...
 
 @jperlow ...wow, I tell you what, I used to think Flickr was just a "free picture hosting site..." boy did MY preconceived notions get shattered one time! Geez, misspell ONE LITTLE THING... and SHOOP! There it is! Yeah, I think Flickr should have a nice big fat flashing warning label - "Warning: Use Spellcheck for your searches, or what comes up may shock you!" As for Facebook and their privacy issues... have you ever seen "spokeo.com"? You should do a blog on them! mailto:masterzach21@gmail.com
 
 zach.winchester
 10 May, 2010 17:31
 
 Reply Vote
RE: Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)

The title says it all about the Facebook problem. "Lock down" shouldn't take more than 20 seconds. Even fine tuning shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes.

sullivanjc
10 May, 2010 12:52

Reply Vote
RE: RE: Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)

After following along on the video very carefully...pausing every so often to make sure I got all the steps...I said to myself, "Do I really need this?" The answer was, "No!" I deleted my FB account. Now...it's secure!

usad
10 May, 2010 13:15

Reply Vote
RE: Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)

Oh, BTW...my method took One Minute!

usad
10 May, 2010 13:24

Reply Vote
RE: Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)

Why should I lock down my Facebook account?

All the information on it is false and there is nothing connecting it to my real identity.

Then there's my other locked down private account.

hill60
10 May, 2010 16:40

Reply Vote
LOL! Flickr...

@jperlow ...wow, I tell you what, I used to think Flickr was just a "free picture hosting site..." boy did MY preconceived notions get shattered one time! Geez, misspell ONE LITTLE THING... and SHOOP! There it is! Yeah, I think Flickr should have a nice big fat flashing warning label - "Warning: Use Spellcheck for your searches, or what comes up may shock you!" As for Facebook and their privacy issues... have you ever seen "spokeo.com"? You should do a blog on them! mailto:masterzach21@gmail.com

zach.winchester
10 May, 2010 17:33

Reply Vote
I just wonder why they have not been taken to court (yet)....

Constantly changing privacy settings behind users back and OBVIOUSLY against the users intent (many of them deliberately set/tightened their settings already) and as a consequence selling what users do not want to sell (their private information) is in my personal, uneducated opinion VERY close to constituting an offence and I am amazed how these social media websites get away with. In other serious business you are legally required to get consent BEFORE the action that affect the customers interests, so, why not in this field...? Will be interesting to see how long it will take until authorities (or some clever law firms...) start digging into this rather blunt disregard for legitimate user interests...

TTom911
10 May, 2010 23:52

Reply Vote
RE: Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)

Thanks hugely for this video i`ve just been so paranoid about non-friends being able to see my favourite movies list on facebook! Luckily i haven`t included my bank account and pin number in my biography - phew!

Damn those pesky apps trying to hijack my telephone line and electricity supply!

aagsgsdfjh
11 May, 2010 02:31

Reply Vote
Oh Lord,

I think you just made this video so you could finally say out loud all those words you throw into your opinion pieces and try to make into tech metaphors: Zoroastrianism?

Jared Neale
11 May, 2010 13:46

Reply Vote
RE: Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)

Super Duper helpful. At first I wasn't very concerned about all the privacy settings, but I watched your video I was forced to think about the consequences more and made a bunch of changes. I also nuked a ton of people from my friend list. Thanks much!

tarabonner
11 May, 2010 14:05

Reply Vote