Get ready for Facebook Graph Search with Privacyfix 3.0

Today we launched Privacyfix 3.0, a major upgrade focused on getting you ready for Facebook Graph Search. All the details are in the press release (below). This post is about the highlights. The first thing you need to know is:

There is no opt-out from Graph Search. 

Facebook wants you to be more open and connected, so anything you share on Facebook is ‘graph-searchable’ by anyone who otherwise has access to your stuff. What’s different now is that Graph Search is amazingly easy, fast and precise, which means that other Facebook users can now probe, slice and dice the details of your profile, posts, tagged photos and all the rest at the click of a mouse. Graph Search is rolling out right now to Facebook users in the United States.

There are three things to do to get ready for Graph Search.

1. Make sure only the right people can search your posts.

The first order of business is to make sure that you’re only sharing with the people you want to share with, so that other people won’t find your information when they use Graph Search. This is a two-step process: first, for the most privacy, make sure your setting for future posts is limited to friends; second, retroactively limit all of your past posts to friends only.

2. Review your Activity Log for what your friends can see.

Even if only your friends can search for your stuff, you still may want to review what they can see, since Graph Search picks up things you may have ‘liked” years ago, or companies that you don’t really “like” but that you wanted to follow for some other reason.

The best place to review your Facebook history is through your Activity Log, which is a big, scrollable master list of the Likes, tags and photos related to you on Facebook. When you use Privacyfix to review your Activity Log, you can automatically highlight words and phrases that might be of concern, within categories like sex and profanity, health and substances.

Super important: Hiding something on your Timeline does not remove it from Graph Search. if you really want something to be unavailable in Graph Search, you need to delete it or remove it completely. You’ll notice that we hit you over the head on this in Privacyfix, because it confuses just about  everyone who encounters it.

3. Take control of tagging.

When someone tags you in a post or photo, that tag associates you with that item within Graph Search, almost instantly. Privacyfix shows you how to change this setting so that the tag requires your prior approval.

Of course, even with these fixes in place, Graph Search means that you need to be careful about what you do in Facebook, since it’s now much more easy for anyone to find.

But wait, there’s more.

In Privacyfix 3.0 we’ve added a new feature that helps you help your friends and family make sure they have their privacy settings in order. Now Privacyfix shows you when their Facebook profile is indexed in Google, which usually indicates that they have never checked their privacy settings. With two clicks, you can send them a link to Privacyfix to get the job done. Parents of teens, this one’s for you.

Last, but not least, when you run Privacyfix now, you’ll see a new layout, which simplifies your console into a single page and brings it together with our tutorial information in a handy slider. You’ll also see a new status indicator at the top of the page, which shows you instantly when you have open privacy choices to consider. The new layout also gives us more room to add more settings and services, and aligns our design with Privacyfix for iOS and Android, which are now in field testing.

Try Privacyfix 3.0 now >>

PRIVACYFIX PREPARES YOU FOR FACEBOOK GRAPH SEARCH
Easily limit exposure to invasive searches and check exposure of family and friends

February 13, 2013 – Santa Cruz, CA – Privacy-technology leader PrivacyChoice today announced Graph Search Control as part of a major upgrade to Privacyfix. Privacyfix 3.0 gets you ready for Graph Search in three easy steps, using the guided interface that drew rave reviews when Privacyfix launched in October. Privacyfix also features new setting checks, a simpler, unified interface and the ability to see and warn your friends when they are vulnerable to public searches of their Facebook timeline. These new features are immediately available to new users and to over 300,000 users who have already installed Privacyfix for Chrome and Firefox.

Jim Brock, PrivacyChoice Founder, said: “Graph Search is a privacy nightmare for millions of people who have never checked their default settings on Facebook. Every post, every Like and every tagged photo can now be scanned in infinite detail by anybody with a Facebook account. Because Facebook has provided no way to opt out from Graph Search, it’s up to each user to control who can see and search for their information. Privacyfix makes it much easier and quicker to get this right.”

Privacyfix 3.0 includes these new features:

Graph Search Control

Privacyfix checks your exposure to Facebook’s new searching feature, and takes you through three simple steps to control what others can find out about you through Graph Search. The new Activity Log highlight feature zeros-in on content that you don’t want to be searchable, even by your friends. Privacyfix also now shows you how to require approval before being tagged in other people’s posts, which helps limit Graph Search Exposure.

Jim Brock: “Because Graph Search has no opt out, the burden is on the user to review their Activity Log for things they probably never thought would be so easily available to other users. Our helpful overlay speeds this process by highlighting content that may be of concern.”

Friend Privacy Helper

In another innovation, Privacyfix now lets you check the Facebook privacy exposure of your family and friends, and then send them a gentle reminder when their Facebook profile can be found in Google. Now it’s easier for concerned parents and relations to ensure that their loved ones are making thoughtful privacy choices.

Jim Brock: “Online privacy is challenging, and we can all use a hand to make sure we aren’t over-sharing. Parents of teenagers, in particular, will find this new feature is a great way to help make Facebook a safer and more comfortable experience for everyone in the family.”

Spiffy New Design

Privacyfix 3.0 also shows off a new, unified design, which foreshadows the launch of Privacyfix for Android and iOS (both now in field testing). The new version also adds a handy progress bar that summarizes your overall privacy status.

Jim Brock: “Online life involves an ever-growing set of privacy choices. Our mission is to make Privacyfix the platform for these decisions across every device that you use.”

About Privacyfix

Privacyfix is the ultimate privacy tool, checking and protecting your privacy across Facebook, Google, and thousands of websites and online trackers. Privacyfix is a service of PrivacyChoice, a leading provider of privacy technology and data, founded in 2009 in Santa Cruz, California. Privacyfix is available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Russian.

Contact:
Jim Brock
PrivacyChoice
101 Cooper Street
Santa Cruz CA 95060
@privacychoice
408-641-9290
jim@privacychoice.org