So It's widenly known that Facebook's ability to provide a free service comes from it's data mining.  But there's something more invasive behind it.

Read more on on why this is dangerous AND how to stop it.

This includes your likes, your interests and hobbies, places you've been, etc.  All things that advertisers can use to taylor a specific ad campaign for you.   To paint this picture a little clearer it's the difference between a campaign of one person to win the votes of the American people compared to the thousands of a business arming a lobbyist with all the tools required to get a Senator's vote.   Obviously a more personalized sales pitch works better. AND that's exactly what businesses are hoping to get.    Experiment with this by going to various products websites in another tab whlie logged into facebook.  Then go to You Tube and click lots of videos that have Ad boxes in the top right.  You may notice ( as I did, ALOT) that many of those ads being placed there just "happen" to be sites I went to just hours before.

While it's great in theory it's still privacy invasion.  In recent reports this has gone beyond mere data mining because Facebook has been tracking ALL the websites you've gone to that had a like button. This means even when you come to UGotstyle.com facebook has record of that.  While it's great PR for it's UGotStyle's creator but there's something bigger at stake.   As the creator of UGotStyle all I had to do to make this happen is install a "like" feature as instructed by Facebook's design instructions.

So this may seem fine but the makers of porn sites can put the same code into their pages as well.  Headshops / Smoke Shops, Skateboard shops. All of this data can one day be used to either create a profile for your criminal history OR your insurance worthiness.  If you're constantly going to websites offering free Cigarette's the insurance companies may one day dock you.

Ready to stop it now?   I thought you were.

A key thing is to use Firefox as the browser and install a program called Share Me Not.    While you're still able to click "like" on pages you DO feel ok with clicking you won't e tracked if you haven't.    Download Mozilla Firefox at Mozilla.com and install the app located at Facebook Tracking You!  - Do Something.

The downside is Facebook can track whether you visit sites for high dollar items and create a profile of your actual value as a person.   If this information gets out you could potentiallly have identity theves or worse yet criminals attempting to steal everything you worked for.  And how did they find out what you had?  Because you frequented sites that sell expensie technology and rolex watches.   Or maybe you're cashing in your 401 K and clicked "like" on lots of new things but didn't frequent job search sites.   That's a clue you came into new money and not just home online between jobs.   So while this technology has it's potential don't allow yourself to be at risk until all the bugs are worked out.   Or maybe you frequent sites that feature lots of people with very little clothing.   Or sites that if made public would ruin your presidential campaign.    All it needs on that site is the "like" code and facebook has you tracked.  Unless you do something about it.   Take it or leave it, it's just my opinion. 

As always you want to have your computer on an encrypted wireless or wired network. AND use complicated passwords that only you can remember.    Your privacy is your business but have open discussions with your friends about the resons for privacy. 

So click Like on this article and share with your friends how they too can protect themselves.  This like is safe.