US Markets Loading... h m s

HOMEPAGE

Tech

How To Put Facebook On A Privacy Lockdown

Nicholas Carlson

2010-05-11T15:11:00Z

locks and padlocks

UPDATE: How To Put Facebook On A Privacy Lockdown

Advertisement

Earlier: Facebook has made all kinds of privacy changes lately.

It's made some users uncomfortable and, thanks to a couple poorly-timed screw-ups, Facebook is getting a lot of heat about the changes from Senators, media, and watchdog organizations.

We don't think any of that will ever cause you to quit Facebook. You love what Facebook does for you too much to quit.

But if you're going to stay on Facebook, you should definitely know how to keep your information private.

Advertisement

Go to Facebook.com. Click on the drop-down "account" menu in the top right corner. Drag to "privacy settings."

Click "personal information and posts."

Lockdown!

Advertisement

For each of the 7 drop-down menus on the right, click and drag to "only friends."

Uncheck the box next to "Friends can post on my Wall"

Advertisement

On the "photo albums" line, click "edit settings" on the right.

Along with your profile photos, each of the albums you've ever uploaded will have a drop down menu. Click and drag to "Only friends" for each

Advertisement

Click the "Privacy" link on the top left. We're not close to done yet.

Click "contact information."

Advertisement

Click on each of the 9 drop-down menus not called "add me as a friend" and drag to "only friends." For "add me as a friend," select "friends of friends."

Click "Back To Privacy" to go back on the Privacy Settings page. There, click "Friends, Tags and Connections"

Advertisement

Select "only friends" in all 10 drop-down menus

Click "Back To Privacy" to go back on the Privacy Settings page. There, click "Applications and Websites."

Advertisement

On the top line, click "learn more"

Learn it: When you use Facebook in apps on other Websites, you are giving your info to those apps and Web sites.

Advertisement

So let's go back to Applications and Websites and make sure that doesn't happen when you don't want it to

Advertisement

Uncheck every box and click "save changes."

Go back to Applications and Websites

Advertisement

Click on the drop-down menu across from "Activity on Applications and Games Dashboards." Select "only friends."

On the last line, click "edit settings" for "Instant Personalization Pilot Program"

Advertisement

Uncheck the check-box. Click confirm.

Click "Applications and Websites."

Advertisement

Click "Back to Privacy." We're still not done.

Click "Search" on the second to last line.

Advertisement

Select "only friends" for "Facebook Search Results"

Uncheck "allow" next to "Public Search Results"

Advertisement

Click "confirm." Sorry, Facebook. This is a total lockdown.

Click "Back To Privacy"

Advertisement

It's time to test your lock down. Click "Personal Information and Posts"

Click "Preview My Profile"

Advertisement

Enter various Facebook users' names to see how each will view your profile. We're worried about what "Jay Yarow" can see.

Facebook will show you what your friends can see. If all looks good, then congratulations…

Advertisement

Your Facebook profile is on a privacy LOCKDOWN!

f

But now you have to worry about converting your profiles "likes and interests" from private text into public membership in "community" groups.

Here's how to make sure you don't disclose any information you want to keep private >

Facebook Privacy Security

Advertisement

Jump to

Main content
Search
Account