Zuckerberg promises to improve Facebook privacy

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Simpler and stronger Facebook privacy controls will be released soon, according to Mark Zuckerberg.

The social networking service has been the subject of much scrutiny over recent weeks with concerns escalating about the security functions and privacy on Facebook.

Founder and chief executive Zuckerberg has reassured users in an article for the Washington Post that he and his team are listening to feedback and will be responding with simpler privacy tools along with stronger controls to “limit the visibility” of people’s data.

“Sometimes we move too fast - and after listening to recent concerns, we’re responding,” Zuckerberg wrote.

“Many of you thought our controls were too complex. Our intention was to give you lots of granular controls; but that may not have been what many of you wanted. We just missed the mark.”

Facebook will also be making it easy to turn off all third-party services, according to Zuckerberg.

“We are working hard to make these changes available as soon as possible,” he added.

In a statement to IT PRO, Facebook said that it has been consulting experts across the world as it looks to improve the security of the service.

“We know Facebook is well known for its innovations around sharing and we want to be equally known for innovations around user control,” the company added.

There have been numerous Facebook security scares in recent weeks. Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, pointed to attacks using “rogue applications and adware downloads, disguised as sexy or funny videos” which have hit the social networking site over the last two weekends.

“Isn't it time that Facebook set up an early warning system on their network, through which they can alert their almost 500 million users about breaking threats as they happen? Imagine just how many people could have been protected if a simple message had appeared on all users' screens warning them of the outbreak,” Cluley said in his blog.

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