Tech Tips: Facebook Security Changed again

I know that most of us has a Facebook account and are likely using it everyday to interact with people and connect with long lost friends. But as a user we need to be wise enough to know the dangers that it would bring once an account is hacked or maliciously accessed. Most of you probably don't know that when accessing Facebook it has to be in a secured environment in order for it not to be hacked. Facebook has recently changed its security settings (again!) without notifying its users. Apparently, Facebook has automatically set to default the setting of everyone's account security to Non-Secure.

Take a look at your URL. If you see "http" or just "www" instead of "https", that means you DO NOT have a secure session & your account can be hacked. But don't fret, if you want to change this just go to Account Settings -> Account Security -> click Change. Check box (secure browsing), click Save. Then after that you should see the https://www.facebook.com as the url for your Facebook page.

It's definitely frustrating to know that Facebook would have to do this and not let their users know about it, but we just need to suck it up and learn it from someone else's.

Happy browsing everyone!

Tech News: Twitter and Facebook rule Philippine mobile users

According to a recent survey made by TNS, an international media research firm, Twitter and Facebook saw an increase in their popularity last year among Filipino mobile device users, thanks to cheap and unlimited data services.

The international media research firm also mentioned that a total of 91 percent of mobile device users in the Philippines this year access sites such as Facebook. This is a good 54% increase in penetration for the same population last 2010.

And it’s not just Facebook that got the interests of Filipino mobile device users, microblogging sites like Twitter saw a 17% increase in 2011 from 4% last 2010.

An estimated 73% of mobile phone users use their devices to send personal messages. Filipinos also use their mobile devices to enjoy digital music, video calling, bluetooth functionality, and as a planner for their calendar functions. This just shows that Filipino’s are putting their mobile devices into good use

While majority of Filipinos continue to use the short messaging service (SMS) on their mobile devices, the levels have been declining as social networking steps into the picture.

I wouldn't be surprised if the trend continues to go up every year, as mobile service providers continuously find ways on how to better incorporate data services packages into their mobile plans and services.

Facebook as Mobile providers? Not a remote possibility

There is talk that Facebook is slowly creeping into the market share of mobile operators. According to Eden Zoller, analyst from Ovum, “Facebook is encroaching directly on mobile operator territory and should not be underestimated".

“It has come a very long way since it first launched Facebook Mobile in 2006. It is now a force to be reckoned with in mobile with over 200 million users interacting with the service via mobile phone. It is much more than a social network and is better viewed as an increasingly rich platform for communications and content. Facebook wants to integrate with everything and be the main way that people consume and share information, anywhere and on any device."

Zoller continued: “There is also intense ongoing speculation that Facebook will come out with its own phone, which in some respects would be the final piece of the puzzle. However, we don’t think that Facebook is any rush to launch its own hardware just yet, although it could be interested in working with partners on a customized device platform. This would in effect make Facebook a social operating system."

The statement by Zoller somehow connects with reports that Facebook had an integration deal with Skype for voice communications.

This to me is an indirect threat to mobile operators that facebook is indeed heading towards competing with them for their services. Currently, people with access to Facebook via their mobile phone would rather use it to sending their messages rather than via text. I am starting to have an inclination towards believing reports that Facebook is really heading towards in competing with mobile operators. Though seems like Facebook is not in a rush, it would probably take them another 5 years to fully realize it.

Though I still find it hard to imagine having Facebook as my mobile phone provider but who knows what might happen in the coming years.