Manny,

Hasn't there been reported instances of identity theft, via personal information posted on and related to people who are registered on Facebook? Seems to me that there has been a growing number of these happening recently.

FR&G

I feel if you be vigilant and watch your security it is no different than any other website you use or go on. Any site can be hacked and they all pay lots of bucks to ensure it won't happen but sh!! does happen.

I fought with the State of Wisconsin to avoid paying our business monthly sales tax online but I lost. They assured me it was totally safe and all my info including banking information was secure, BS I said. Do you really think they would stand behind me if my info was hacked on their site, NO!!!!!

If you feel it is not secure then don't do it. It is up to you. JMHO

I personally use Facebook.  I have for a long time, and precisely because of my concerns for information security.  One of the things that I really appreciate is the ability to choose who see's my information.  I've set my profile up so that only my friends can see my info.  On top of the security built into Facebook, I also only put very general information up on Facebook - my hometown, not my complete address.  I don't put credit card information or my ssn or any other information that could be used for identity theft.  Despite this, there are still folks who don't follow the rules, and put information up that become public - and then they've created a serious problem for themselves.

That being said, Facebook is very good for sharing information with your friends, and to that end - you can now share AuctionArms.com auctions that you find interesting with them.  I've posted up a Hotchkiss cannon that I want for my 40th birthday, should anyone have a spare $120,000 floating around.

-manny

I thought Auction Arms had a page on Facebook but I cannot find it?

Never mind I just typed it in wrong.

jess, set up a bank account just for your state sales tax. Don't put any money in the account untill just before you send it to the state comptroller.-Capt"Jim"

As jessmooon pointed out, any Internet site can be hacked. A good hacker, as been proven in the past, can backtrack and gain information from previous sources. So.......my concern is the big WHAT IF an astute hacker would back back to AA information files and gain a members' personal information? Please do not say this could not happen, because stranger things have.

I'm not bashing Facebook, to use it is a personal choice, however, to me it seems as if more information tentacles that a person has reaching out into cyber space, the greater chance for identity theft and sites such as this are just another portal which can be opened by the criminal element. Nothing on the face of this planet is 100% safe and fool proof. Paranoid......................possibly, cautious............................yes. JMVHO.

FR&G

Manny is on Facebook?  Bob gets a break.  I've another AA nose to tweak!

BTW, I read on Kim Komando this morning that there was a contest for hackers to see which browsers they could hack.  Firefox. IE, iPhine, and Mac all got hacked and as part of the rules of the game, the hackers were required to turn over the "how to's" to the vendors.  Expect some browser security patches in the near future.  See  http://www.eweek.com/index2.php?option=content&task=view&id=59914&pop=1&hide_ads=1&page=0&hide_js=1

CaptJim, Hummmm, food for thought.

FOOLS RUSH IN WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD.

FR&G