Facebook's Android app snags your mobile number the moment you launch it

[Renew Deal]

There's a lot of concern over the gov't, but Facebook is an even more brazen thief.

If you've ever simply launched the Facebook app on your Android smartphone, Facebook may have collected your phone number, according to an alert from Symantec. This marks the second time in two weeks that a security company has cited the social networking site for grabbing and storing contact info from people who may not even have Facebook accounts.

"The first time you launch the Facebook application, even before logging in, your phone number will be sent over the Internet to Facebook servers. You do not need to provide your phone number, log in, initiate a specific action, or even need a Facebook account for this to happen," according to Symantec's official blog.

Hundreds of millions of devices have installed the Facebook application, according to Symantec, and some devices come pre-installed with it; thus, a significant portion of Android devices are likely affected.

The news isn't going to help Facebook's reputation for being less-than-vigilant with its vast hoard of valuable user (and non-user) data. Security company Packet Storm revealed last week that for a year, Facebook was leaking potentially private contact information collected from users who uploaded their contact lists to the site. Packet Storm later criticized Facebook for understating the scope of the leak and for failing to alert nonusers who may have been affected.
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http://www.infoworld.com/t/data-security/facebooks-android-app-snags-your-mobile-number-the-moment-you-launch-it-221822

[Fuddnik]

1. You can't even get that app off your phone.

Don't have an account. Don't want an account. But Facebook comes pre-installed. And you can't get rid of it.

[Ron Obvious]

2. Cyanogen mod...

I buy my phones unlocked, root them and put cyanogen mod android on them. I don't trust anything cell phone companies or laptop manufacturers put on my equipment and make sure to clean it off on day 1.