Students looking to rack up high friend-counts on Facebook might want to think twice before accepting people they don't personally know.
Sophos, a UK-based IT security firm, recently released a report about how willing Facebook users are to give out personal information.
The firm created a fake account and friend-requested 200 people. According to the results published by MacWorld, 82 users accepted the request from the username Freddi Staur, whose profile picture featured a green frog.
But those who accepted didn't just gain a new friend — they also gave access to coveted personal information.
"Freddi may look like a happy, green frog who just wants to be friends," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos in a report, "but actually he is happy because he has just encouraged 82 users to hand over their personal details on a plate."
In a recent interview with Time magazine, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged the recent additions to the social networking site that allows businesses to launch independent applications to Facebook.
Users can download these Facebook Platforms at their own discretion.
"I think that's something that's pretty exciting to the business community," Zuckerberg said in the interview. "It's also really exciting to our users, because it means that a whole new variety of services are going to be made available."
But some students at ASU said they feel the new applications are more a nuisance than anything else.
Mike Pontiakos, a finance sophomore, said he preferred the days when Facebook was simpler.
"I think that it's weak that they have added all of these applications," Pontikos said. "It is becoming too MySpace.com. It was way cooler when it was smaller and all collegiate."
Sophos said he recommends using caution when adding these new applications, as the application's author can access any information.
Though he acknowledged that many students refuse to put up personal information such as social security numbers and other sensitive details, Cmdr. Jim Hardina of ASU Police said that many students don't realize how much information can be found on a Web site.
Students know the dangers of putting information such as addresses on Facebook, Hardina said. But users may not realize how detrimental it could be to put non-assuming details like birthdays and hometowns on the Web site.
"An identity thief can look at your phone numbers, your addresses, friends and locations," Hardina said. "And between the different information, he could easily submit an application for a new line of credit or even apply to college under your name and information. Someone could very easily get all of that information from a Facebook account."
Sophos suggests adjusting user privacy settings to prevent online identity theft.
Some students keep their profiles private for reasons other than preventing identity theft.
"Only my friends can see it," said Ryan Maddux, a business management junior. "I just don't need my boss to see it."
In the end, common sense should be the guide for allowing access of personal information online, Hardina said.
"Avoid the personal information," he said. "You shouldn't really put any of it up. Once it is on Facebook, anyone who wants to know anything can see what you have made public, and predators know that."
