The U.S. Air Force has warned personnel in Germany about the risk of new Facebook application that can reveal a user’s whereabouts, claiming the application’s features could pose a security risk. “Places I check in to” and “People Here Now” use IP addresses and smartphone GPS capabilities to locate a user when logging onto Facebook, which then publishes that information on a person’s profile page, unless certain security settings are in effect. The Air Force sent out an email to service members advising them to turn off the app, while not actually forbidding its use.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

AF Says App Could Pose Security Threat (by Warren Peace, Stars and Stripes)

Help File: Facebook 'Places' Privacy Settings (Washington Post)

Video Guide to Disabling Facebook Features (by Rob Pegorano, Washington Post)