A RECENT BREACH in Facebook’s security allowed total strangers to view private and restricted photos posted on users’ profiles despite recent 'improvements' to the social not-working site's privacy controls.

Facebook is generally considered one of the safer social networks in terms of personal media, due to its large number of privacy options. But of course, as is the case when sharing any media online, there is always a risk that the information could be hacked into or even made available by accident. This seems to have been the case for Facebook, whose photo album loophole was discovered by Vancouver computer technician Byron Ng, who reported his discovery to AP.

Ng had apparently been testing the strength of Facebook’s new privacy settings when he realised that he was able to pull up recent photos posted by any of facebook’s 67 million members, whether they had restricted access to them or not. What was even more disturbing was that NG could access photos of people who weren’t even his 'friends' or belong to his 'network'. Paris Hilton was exposed (not for the first time) when NG managed to see pictures she had posted from the Emmy Awards and of her brother drinking with friends.

When AP decided to test the theory, they discovered that they were even able to access photos from Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, although these were three years old.

When made aware of the problem, Facebook spokeswoman Brandee Barker said that the bug was fixed within an hour and noted, 'we take privacy very seriously'. Luckily for Facebook, Paris Hilton has, in the past, proven that she doesn’t take her privacy terribly seriously and will therefore not be pressing charges, or indeed keeping her knees together whilst getting out of limos. µ

L'Inq
Assoc iated Press