BBC NEWS | Programmes | Click | Click's Facebook security advice * Home * News * Sport * Radio * TV * Weather * Languages Low Graphics version | Accessibility help Help * BBC NEWS Click Highlights Gadgets and guides Meet the team About the programme MORE PROGRAMMES * Digital Planet * More... * Page last updated at 02:03 GMT, Thursday, 1 May 2008 03:03 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version Click's Facebook security advice If you are worried about Click's investigation into the potential risk of identity theft by third-party applications on Facebook (1 May, 2008), here is our advice. First: Do not panic. If you are worried we believe you have two options: OPTION 1: STOP YOUR DETAILS BEING VISIBLE You can completely stop any of your details from being visible to applications. Bear in mind that if you use applications, they are all granted access to certain parts of your profile, whether they need them or not. The only way to be sure no one can see your details, and to stop any of your details being seen by friends' applications is to tell Facebook you do not want to have anything to do with any applications, ever. Here is how you do it: Log in and click on the "privacy" option at the top of the front page, then on the "Applications" option, then on the "Other Applications" tab. Here you can select what Applications added by your Friends can see about you. Click the option near the bottom marked "Do not share any information about me through the Facebook API". If you cannot click it, it is because you have applications on your profile already. You will need to remove all of them. Now, your profile will not talk to any applications at all. WARNING: Confusingly, if you now try and add an application, Facebook will let you. It gives you the standard warning that your details will be shared, but no extra warnings that you are overriding your privacy settings. It will also flip off the button you ticked about the Facebook API, making you visible to friends' applications again. OPTION 2: REDUCE THE DETAILS VISIBLE TO APPLICATIONS Again, bear in mind that if you use Applications, they are all granted access to certain parts of your profile, whether they need them or not. It is your responsibility to make sure an application is not malicious - although we have no idea how you can tell. Log in and click on the "privacy" option, then on the "Applications" option, then on the "Other Applications" tab. Select "Share my name, networks, and list of friends, as well as the following information." Here you can select what Applications added by your Friends can see about you. Deselect any information you do not want them to see. It looks to us like your name, networks, and list of friends are always visible to friends' applications. We do not think this is as intrusive as Facebook's default settings, and remember: Facebook is about being part of a community - and that means sharing some information. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with: * Delicious * Digg * reddit * Facebook * StumbleUpon What are these? CLICK Click on Twitter Get the latest with our Twitter alerts on Facebook... Join in the conversation on Facebook ... and on Google+ Put Click in your Circles to receive updates SEE ALSO Q&A: Facebook response 01 May 08 | Click Facebook to track Darfur suspects 25 Apr 08 | Africa Personal data privacy 'at risk' 21 Feb 08 | Business Learning what makes Facebook tick 21 Apr 08 | Technology Parents' views on social networks 02 Apr 08 | UK RELATED INTERNET LINKS Facebook The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites MOST POPULAR STORIES NOW * MOST SHARED * MOST READ * Tourists flock to 'Jesus's tomb' in Kashmir Most popular now, in detail * MOST SHARED * MOST READ * BBC News * BBC News * BBC News * BBC News * BBC News * BBC News * BBC News * BBC News * BBC News * BBC News Most popular now, in detail FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS Ghost town Has China's housing bubble burst? The guerilla plant How the world's oldest clove tree defied an empire Walking away Why Royal Ballet principal Sergei Polunin quit * BBC Copyright Notice MMIX * Back to top ^^ * Terms of Use * Privacy Policy