Fake accounts and personality theft on Facebook: a new tool to fight

Facebook is testing a new tool to prevent some users to use credentials and profile photos of others. The new feature is already available on 75% of these accounts in service and allows you to automatically notify owners when others steal profile picture or even the name using this data within other accounts "fake". Reporting the news is Mashable, which received information from some leaders of the social network.

When it detects identity theft the system alerts automatically the actual account user, who can mark the fake profile as "impersonation". Performing the operation the Facebook security team is contacted that will cancel the fraudulent profile. That of identity theft is not a very common threat on Facebook, but reduce the risk with automated systems makes it less vulnerable service users, especially women.

"It is a real cause for concern in those regions of the world where identity theft could have some ramifications on the cultural and social level," said Antigone Davis, head of security for the social network. The notification of automated tool is however not a criterion essential to report fraud on Facebook. If you believe that you are involved in a similar case you can simply hand it back to the team.

In a virtual environment so sensitive, as is Facebook visa data we put into service, security becomes a key aspect. Over time the company has been particularly careful on the subject for many types of personal attacks, including harassment, phishing and account theft. He has also developed a special tool for the "privacy control", in which the user can check at any time to your profile settings.

It is never immune to anyway if you do not use the tools provided with reason and common sense. The news about identity theft, according to what is revealed by Facebook spokesman, have been introduced primarily to help women feel more secure within the service. Not only do these online receive a disproportionate amount of harassment, but in some countries where the public image is all at risk of being marginalized and removed from life in society.