Facebook recently made the announcement it will send users a warning when they believe a user’s profile is targeted or compromised by an attacker suspected of working on behalf of the government.
Alex Stamos, chief security officer at Facebook, said in a press release Facebook will not be able to explain how they attribute certain attacks by suspected attackers, but only plan to use the warning in situations where the evidence strongly supports their conclusion.
To take precautions against attempted attacks on their profiles, users are encouraged to activate “login approvals” through settings.
Facebook users can also receive an alert when anyone logs into their account from a new device or browser by activating “login alerts.”
Missy Fischbach, senior liberal studies major, said she spends time on Facebook every day.
“(Facebook) is being dramatic because the government looks at everything that we do online,” Fischbach said. “I wouldn’t want to know (if the government is spying on me) because it would change the way I post when I do know that they are spying on (me).”
Alexandra Slick, junior psychology and sociology double major, said she spends at least three hours a day on Facebook and said she would want to know when the government is looking on her social media because she feels it is an invasion of privacy.
“I don’t have a reason for the government to look at my social media, but I would want to know why they are doing so,” Slick said.
