Remember back in 2012 when someone hacked LinkedIn and revealed that millions of user passwords had been stored in plain-old cleartext? German artist Aram Bartholl has compiled, printed and bound 4.7 million passwords into “Forgot Your Password?,” an eight-volume set that visitors to next month’s Unpainted media art fair in Munich will be able to thumb through. [via Boing Boing] [More]
Ginormous Hack Targets 2 Million Accounts Spread Over 93,000 Websites Worldwide
By 12.5.13
About two million people should be checking your social media accounts and anything else one might have a login and password for: Hackers have snagged usernames and passwords for millions of Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yahoo and other sites accounts, according to a new report. [More]
Google Mocks Opacity Of National Security Requests While Feds Try To Hide Court Action From Public
By 11.14.13
For quite some time, Google and other Internet biggies have argued that they should be able to reveal relatively detailed data to the public about user-information requests from federal law enforcement agencies, and specifically those that fall under that black umbrella of national security. In its latest transparency report, Google uses a visual to show its distaste for this opacity. Meanwhile, the federal government is attempting to argue its case for the lack of transparency behind doors closed so tight that even the others involved in the request won’t be privy to what’s said. [More]
You Can Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stalker-Proof, But Then You Might As Well Not Have A Profile
By 6.18.13
On Facebook, you can make your profile very private so that no one outside of your network can see anything other than your name. You can also block individuals from contacting you. Twitter allows you to make your feed private so that you pick and choose who can follow your Tweets. Meanwhile, LinkedIn allows you to limit who can see your profile, but does not give you the ability to block individuals, so it’s kind of an all or nothing. [More]
Airbnb Cancels Reservation Because You Don’t Want To Post A Video Of Yourself
By 5.30.13
One month ago, home-sharing service Airbnb began rolling out a program called Verified ID, which requires some U.S. users (and eventually people in other parts of the world) to go through a verification process that uses social media logins — either Facebook or LinkedIn — and offline proof of ID, like a scanned license or passport. But what if you don’t use Facebook or LinkedIn? [More]
Graphic: Which Internet Biggies Are Even Slightly Concerned About Your Privacy?
By 5.20.13
When it comes to online privacy, many consumers assume that their service provider, or the websites they are browsing, have the users’ best interest in mind and that these companies won’t simply hand over your information to authorities. These people are mistaken, as are those who believe that no online companies make user privacy a priority. The truth, as usual, is a bit from column A and a bit from column B. [More]
Can’t Find Executives’ Names For An EECB? Use LinkedIn
By 4.5.13 — Updated: 12.3.13
Since we published our original guide to launching an executive e-mail carpet bomb in 2007, one thing has changed: social media has become a lot more ubiquitous for people who aren’t currently enrolled in college. Reader Tiana recently had the same problem over and over with an item that she bought at a regional jewelry chain, and got it resolved by contacting some higher-ups. It’s how she figured out who to write to that’s worth filing away in the consumer toolkit in your brain. [More]
List Of Companies With Worst Customer Service Scores Is Full Of Familiar Names
By 1.8.13 — Updated: 3.19.13
Bank of America, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Delta, Charter, American Airlines — these are just a few of the all-too-familiar companies sitting comfortably in the back of the pack in terms of customer service for 2012. [More]
Would You Let Your Employer Tell You What Your LinkedIn Profile Should Say?
By 7.27.12
At what point does the tether between you and your job end? This is the conundrum facing one Consumerist reader whose employer recently told all staffers to edit their LinkedIn profiles to reflect the business’ very specific branding message. [More]
LinkedIn Sued For $5 Million For Failing To Protect Passwords During Breach
By 6.21.12
A LinkedIn user has filed suit against the business for $5 million, claiming the networking site failed its members by not doing enough to protect the 6.5 million passwords that were leaked in a recent hack attack. [More]
LinkedIn Breach Reportedly Results In Millions Of Passwords Leaked Online
By 6.6.12
UPDATE: LinkedIn has confirmed on its blog that “some of the passwords that were compromised correspond to LinkedIn accounts,” and outlines how affected members will be notified. [More]
Airline Using Facebook To Turn Jet Cabin Into High School Cafeteria
By 2.24.12
As adults, most of us are perfectly okay with the notion that it doesn’t really matter who you sit next to on the plane. You take your seat, eat your free peanuts and sleep through Two & a Half Men reruns. But Dutch airline KLM is testing a new service that allows Facebook and LinkedIn users to try to find the cool kids’ section of the plane. [More]
Can't Anyone At LinkedIn Help My Employer?
By 7.21.11
The magic of the internet is that a company can have a huge, even ubiquitous presence, but a relatively small staff and an even smaller consumer-facing staff. We’ve featured a plenty of examples over the years: Facebook, Gmail, Skype… Time to add LinkedIn to the list. S. is in charge of social media for an unnamed organization, and has been trying to make LinkedIn’s way of sorting employers recognize the organization’s structure. It’s not happening, and there’s no clear way to reach someone with power at the site for help. [More]
How To Quit LinkedIn
By 2.9.11
LinkedIn doesn’t make it very easy to leave, but it is possible to sever ties. Silicon Alley Insider walks you through the steps, which include navigating through non-obvious menu choices and waiting for a confirmation email from customer support. The reporter’s email never came and he had to lobby customer service several times, so if you do try to break the social networking ties that bind, be prepared to do a lot of follow up. [More]
Buzzwords To Avoid When Looking For A New Job
By 12.14.10
Are you a team player? Do you have a proven track record as a problem solver in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment? If so, you might want to think of better ways to describe yourself the next time you’re applying for a new job. [More]
Social Media Bigwigs Reveal Advertising Tactics
By 7.25.10
Back in the day, advertising was supposed to be kinda sneaky — yeah, we knew companies were directing ads at us consumers in an effort to get us to buy stuff, but no one talked about it. Now, social media heavies like Twitter, Zynga (makers of Farmville, Mafia Wars and other time leechers) and LinkedIn are being totally open about their efforts. [More]
How Safe Is Your Facebook Info From The Feds?
By 3.18.10
Newly released documents under the Freedom of Information Act reveal not just the Justice Department’s guidelines for how to use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter for investigative purposes, but which ones are the most friendly to their requests for access to user info. [More]
