Hello you!

DISCLAIMER:This message will hopefully not apply to you, and you may well say “Well, derrrr”. If that’s the case, I shake you by your digital hand. If not, then please take heed, and apologies for the condescension.

No one likes crank calls, or having their mobile phone receive lots of spam texts.

Well, if you’re a Facebook user, here’s a way to help avoid them:

1. If a friend of yours loses their phone and creates a group on Facebook to explain that they’ve lost their phone and your phone number (often named “I got bladdered and left my phone in [Insert Place Here] – numbers plz!”) – don’t post on that group with your phone number. Ever. Even if it’s a secret group.
2. That’s it.

“Why not, Sculliano?”

Well, if it’s an Open group then anyone with a Facebook account who searches for “lost my phone” with find that group and see your phone number on your “here’s my number!” post.

If it’s a Closed group, the same might apply depending on how much info is shared to non-group invitees. Closed is a middle ground between Open and Secret.

If it’s a Secret group, anyone invited to that group can see your phone number on your “you plonker. my number is:” post. Do you know all of your friend’s friends? You happy for them all to have your number? O RLY?

“Well, smart arse, how to solve it?”

Allow me to enlighten you:

• Send a Facebook message the person who’s lost their phone with your phone number., or:
• If they’ve got a new phone / phone number: text them your phone number.

Sorry if this seems obvious, alas I’ve seen this umpteen times, and some people I know have done this.

Just be careful, folks!

Toodles,

Pat a.k.a. Protect Your Data man

Feeling: Like a weight is off his shoulders
Song in Head: Journey – Don’t Stop Believing
Facebook Apps Hidden from my feed today: 1