Facebook Is Always Watching

Social media giant Facebook is coming under fire again. This time it’s about a VPN privacy app they offer to mobile users called Onavo Protect. Facebook recently offered an option to choose Onavo Protect to do what VPN’s do–encrypt a user’s data so it can’t be hacked or stolen. It’s Facebook’s motive behind the app as well as the user information it gathers that’s being questioned. At first glance it appears Facebook did a great thing for its mobile user’s security. Wait, isn’t that a good thing?

Check the fine print included with the Protect app and you’ll find the answer. Buried deep in the “mouse type” is the little-known fact that Facebook owns Onavo Protect. The text under the “How it Works” heading states “Because we’re part of Facebook, we also use this info to improve Facebook products and services, gain insights into the products and services people value, and build better experiences.” Critics claim Facebook didn’t buy Onavo with security in mind­–it's their user data that Facebook is after. In this Information Age, that data is gold. Many suggest that Facebook’s true goal of having its users download Protect is really to install its own version of spyware.

Like other VPN’s, Protect collects and encrypts browsing history, personal data, and other internet activity with the promise of keeping it secure. Contrary to the goal of a VPN, the data Protect safeguards is collected by Facebook to monitor user activity. Among other things, Protect spots trends across apps used on mobile devices, giving Facebook insight into what apps are trending, which are fizzling out, and those on the verge of exploding with popularity.

Trends and other information that Protect collects gives Facebook a number of advantages–one being the ability to target advertising much more accurately. Accuracy appeals enormously to advertisers looking for specific markets to promote their products. Being able to provide spot-on precision for target markets makes Facebook more appealing to advertisers with big budgets to spend.

VPNs are great tools; especially when using public Wi-Fi. However, the idea is that the data is not captured and is encrypted for the protection at both ends of the connection. It’s recommended that anyone who works remotely, especially have a VPN into the corporate network. However, when looking for one be sure to read that fine print. If you have any questions about which one to use, ask your manager or someone in your IT department for recommendations.

Protect may be a great product and it isn’t limited to Facebook users either. Considering the availability of VPN’s other than Onavo Protect, users are left to decide if Protect is for them–assuming they actually read the fine print. Critics want Protect users to know about the irony that Facebook is providing a security app that extracts and uses their personal data. Burying information in the fine print makes Facebook look less concerned about security and more intent on getting their user’s data.

Stickley on Security

March 12, 2018