You may (or may not) have heard that Ron Bowes, a security researcher, snagged the information of 100 million Facebook users, and not by hacking either, but simply by accessing their publicly available data using a Web crawler. It's been reported that, much as you might expect, some companies and corporations are downloading the file, via BitTorrent.
The file contains user account names and a URL for each user's profile page. To be clear, if you haven't locked down your Facebook profile, all of this is publicly available, so nothing Bowes did was illegal. It just goes to show why everything in your profile should be kept private, however.
On the other hand, what's more interesting, and perhaps frightening, is the number of organizations that are reportedly downloading the report. The list, gleaned by using the BitTorrent downloader's tool Peer Block (not that we've ever used it) lists a few interesting parties.
The one that stands out the most to us would be The Church of Scientology, perhaps looking for recruits. Others include Apple, Motorola, McAfee, IBM, Intuit, The Hague, Sprint, and more.
It should be noted that using PeerBlock in this way provides IP addresses, which can then be matched up with the organizations listed. It does not mean that the companies associated with the IP address actually has any sort of oganized campaign. In reality, it could just be some grunt downloading using company resources on his or her lunch hour. Still, we wouldn't put it past the Church of Scientology to troll for new recruits this way.
Comments
$cilons want to contact as many people as they can, to let them know they are here to help. They are just the helpingest billion dollar scam in the world.
What seriously disturbs me is how this information became accessible in the first place. This "list" of companies that everybody is talking about has spread online, often accompanied by the disclaimer that individuals within the company may have indisciminately downloaded the info without real involvement from the decision-makers in the company. If Facebook isn't trying to figure out how to rectify this situation (or situations like it in the future) -- I don't know if I ever would use Facebook in the way that I have before. Sure it's an awesome social networking tool -- but I value my privacy more than my online social life.
Scientology is more than likely trying to dig up information on their perceived enemies, and ex members. Very creepy.
Hey OSA, my name IRL and on facebook is Sal Ammi, I just inherited 10 million dollars and I find institutions that make vague,unprovable claims that sound like they could come from Tony Robbins very attractive
Interesting to me how we all just automatically assume that all of these companies and Scientology included, are automatically guilty of purposefully and willfully downloading this content without any first hand knowledge, confirmation etc., what so ever.
We've reached a point where if it's on the Internet, it must be true....God help us all.
Listen, any kiddee hacker knows, for example, that you can jack in/sniff wireless networks with ease from a companies parking lot and make it look like it is the company using the ISP/connection. Blah, blah, blah...additionally, we're all just automatically believing that these entities have been identified correctly and, if so, that it MUST be the corporation and not some rogue employee? Come'on! Use your brain...having worked at corporations, especially publicly traded ones, I cannot believe that some CEO said, "get me the illegally obtained facebook data!" knowing the ramifications of getting caught with such, THINK!
bebopperbetty it wasn't illegally obtained data, you have the reading comprehension level of a Scientologist.
There's a much more accurate and responsible description in The Atlantic: "Ron Bowes, the researcher, wrote a script that downloaded all the names and URL's of users listed in Facebook's public profile directory -- users who have either elected to make their information searchable or have neglected to hide it." "And what about all these corporations downloading the torrent file? Torrent files crowdsource the process of sharing data... . Gizmodo found 65 that have been known to belong to corporations or major organizations including the United Nations and U.S. Postal Service. But, as they note, that doesn't mean the organizations themselves were downloading the files. It just means that at least one person using a computer at Boeing, Apple, Raytheon or Levi Strauss & Co. was trying to download the file." But of course there are some who will use any excuse to talk about Scientology....
Great article Michael!
The cult of scientology likes to play hardball with ANY ONE who disagrees with them. Kind of ironic that they are a tax-exempt (i.e. subsidized by OUR tax dollars) eh?. If they did download this info, then people whose email is shown on facebook can expect to get spammed, quite regularly, with disgusting snake oil propaganda.
If you are already getting tons of postal junk mail from this cult, do this to get rid of it:
The easiest, and *MOST*EFFECTIVE* thing to do with unwanted mailings is to file a "Form 1500" with the US post office, regarding the sender of each such mailings. The post office will then contact the mailer for you, and demand that they cease sending any mailings to you.
If the sender does send you mail, _after_ having been told by the Post Office,not to. this is a significant _criminal_ violation, and the P.O. _will_ act on it.
Here's where to go for more info:
Google "How to reduce unwanted Postal mail" its at knowmore.org.
For those people who have a facebook account, but don't use it, PLEASE log into it now and click the "deactivate" button.
This will help ensure that the scam of scientology doesn't get your email address and hound you into your grave!!!!
For those people who have a facebook account, but don't use it, PLEASE log into it now and click the "deactivate" button.
This will help ensure that the scam of scientology doesn't get your email address and hound you into your grave!!!!
Lovely, those freaks are like Jehovah Witnesses on steroids!
I took a really crappy, overpriced course from Scientology 10 years ago. B.I.G. M.I.S.T.A.K.E.......they still call me 5 - 10 times a week to see if I'd like to do another one!!!!!!! They don't understand the word "no" and hang on like leeches.
Now you're telling me THEY HAVE MY EMAIL ADDRESS??????
Well....%%%%%%%#####$$$$$ them!!!!!!
Lovely, those freaks are like Jehovah Witnesses on steroids!
I took a really crappy, overpriced course from Scientology 10 years ago. B.I.G. M.I.S.T.A.K.E.......they still call me 5 - 10 times a week to see if I'd like to do another one!!!!!!! They don't understand the word "no" and hang on like leeches.
Now you're telling me THEY HAVE MY EMAIL ADDRESS??????
Well....%%%%%%%#####$$$$$ them!!!!!!
HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU HAIL XENU
No "success stories" about how Scientology has worked for you, Jeanne?
Can someone please explain to me how this organization can possibly have tax-exempt status in the United States? And please don't even try to act as if Scientology is a religion.
Since the cult's membership if falling like a lead balloon, I certainly would not be surprised that they are culling Facebook for, what they term, Raw Meat. Yep, that's how they refer to potential rubes. As one critic labeled them, they are a cross between the Moonies and the Mafia.
Having spent 7 years in this black hole of a "religion," in my humble opinion, organized scientology is, simply put: A mind bending, brain washing, FAMILY DESTROYING (and they're proud of it!), financial ruining, first amendment hating, U.S. government hating (just like Al Qeada!) U.S. government infiltrating, public schools infiltrating, criminal enterprise cult with satanic and black magic roots.
Let the term, "Stupidscientology" go viral. The sooner this group collapses, the better off our world will be. www.xenu.net
Having been a member of the Cult of Scientology for 25 years I would agree with Cult Buster they are looking for enemies to harass and sue.
Two quotes by L. Ron Hubbard (the founder of Scientology)
“The purpose of the suit is to harass and discourage rather than win.”
“The law can be used very easily to harass, and enough harassment on somebody who is simply on the thin edge anyway, well knowing that he is not authorized, will generally be sufficient to cause professional decease. If possible, of course, ruin him utterly. “
Want to protest scientology? Join others who share your opinion
about the cult of scientology.
visit: forums.whyweprotest.net
You people believe anything.
Read Dianetics :)
I hide behind a mask because I am a coward and I have things to hide.
I was kicked out of the Church of Scientology because I was abusive. I made the church look bad and tricked people like Legi0n into becoming criminals.
@Dataminer,Legi0n@11:09,Marty Rathbun
I'll pretend you're three different people to maintain the facade,
Dataminer,Uhmm no, that's you, I've read Dianetics, it's stupid, that's why L Ron never won any awards for anything.
Pseudo-Legion Tom Cruise is the mask you wear and it's a bit metro.
Marty Rathbun - I could'nt care if Marty was snorting blow off of HUbbard's butt on Venus, Scientology would be nasty and vile anyways.
Legion
God's Word: You have the right to your own options, Fact: A religion can not be destroyed once it has started. The more you oppress it the bigger it will grow. So what ever people will say, Scientology will be here to stay from here on out just like the more established religions have in the past, despite their very heavy oppression they have been through. Word of advice just start getting used to them as they will be in your face from here on out.
@GOD's WORD
Why are you referring to Scientologists in the third person?
Scientology is dying, they are losing people left and right, and they close orgs then open new ones to make it look like they are growing, but there are thousands of videos showing how empty their buildings really are. Most countries dont even consider them a religion and they are under investigation again in Russia, russian governement even called them a hate group.
I think its funny that there is serious conversation occuring based off a statement (with no fact) predicting what an organazation would do...
@UMMMM
What would Terryeo do? Haha, just kidding. I'd expect Scientology to use this for some nefarious ends if they could, and what in Scientology is not nefarious?
See if you were in the file... nohasslesites.com/FacebookNames
Learn more! Google and read Wikipedia pages for:
Xenu
R2-45
Scientology Deaths
Scientology Child Labor
Scientology Crimes
Scientology Forced Abortions
Scientology Slave Labor
Call your local Senator and tell them the cult of Scientology needs to have their tax exempt status revoked.
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