Avatar for Alex Blackie Alex Blackie

Facebook's Compromising My Privacy

Published
This article was published more than a decade ago. (I was 15 years old.) Keep in mind that any information, opinions, or links could be outdated or incorrect.

I checked my Facebook today, and noticed in the sidebar where it usually bullies me to enter my email login to find more people, it said “Windows Live” and had pre-filled my hotmail address that I don’t use for anything. This scared me.

My first question was: “How did Facebook know I have a hotmail address?“. I only use the hotmail address for SkyDrive and Office Online, and nothing else. I had never had it as my Facebook email, and have never told anyone about it.

And then I figured it out.

I had signed into Windows Live today to get something, and didn’t sign out. Turns out, Facebook was mining my cookies, found hotmail, and stole that information to market one of their stupid products to me.

That’s the last straw.

From now on, I will only use Facebook through a different browser that I use for nothing other than Facebook. I am quitting Facebook. I will no longer use it. It is evil. This way I will have no personal information for them to steal from me behind my back without asking.

Facebook, this little event has made me lose the tiny bit of compassion I have for you. You and me are now on bad terms.