Facebook Privacy

It seems like every time Facebook updates the "face" of your profile, homepage, etc. your privacy settings change too. For me, this means going back through and trying to make everything private again even though I've done it a hundred times before. You have to go through menu after menu and individually customize settings, and it's a pain. I think this is part of the reason why people don't even bother to care about their online privacy anymore. It's such a hassle to update, and it doesn't seem worth it, yet this is something that we've put upon ourselves. We might complain about privacy settings, yet we just go with the flow and let Facebook update for us even if we don't want to. I think because of these online issues that even in the "real world" privacy isn't private. People are used to being able to see everything about a person online that they forget you can't do that in person. This privacy issue just isn't about Facebook; it's starting to affect our real lives too.

Privacy Policy Comparison

I ranked Microsoft Skydrive, Dropbox, iCloud, SugarSync, Google Drive, and Box in order from most safe to least safe when it comes to your personal information.

Microsoft Skydrive (Source: http://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/fullnotice.mspx)

• Uses cookies
• Collects your information from third parties
• Will not share your information outside of “Microsoft and its controlled subsidiaries and affiliates” without your permission and allows you to choose what information is shared
• May disclose your information in legal matters

Dropbox (Source: https://www.dropbox.com/terms)

• Permission to pass on your files to third parties
• Permission to use your feedback you provide to them

iCloud (Source: http://www.apple.com/privacy/)

• May share your information with its affiliates
• May ask for your SSN in certain circumstances
• Uses your information when you enter promotions, contests, and sweepstakes
• Uses cookies
• Collects and stores your specific computer information; may use to market and advertise
• May make personal information available to certain strategic partners
• May share information with companies that provide services, such as credit processing
• May disclose your information in legal matters
• May use and share your location information
• Your information "may be transferred or accessed by entities around the world"

SugarSync (Source: http://www.sugarsync.com/privacy.html) 

• Stores your files on servers and files are kept 90 days after you delete them
• "no access to your Facebook or Twitter account nor do we store your login information."
• Uses cookies
• Does not share your information with third parties without your consent
• May provide personal information to affiliates
• " May use third parties to perform services related to our operations such as a payment processors" which then have access to your personal information and are required to follow the SugarSync privacy policy

Google Drive (Source: https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/)

• Associates your phone number and other device properties with your Google account
• May collect and process your location information
• May collect and store your personal information onto your device
• Uses cookies
• May show others your Google Profile if they know your email address
• May process your personal information on a server outside of your home country
• May share your personal information with other companies, when you grant permission to do so
• Your information is available to your domain provider
• May provide your personal information to affiliates
• May share non-personal information publicly and to partners
• Restricts access to personal information to Google employees

  Box (Source: https://www.box.com/signup/g)

• May receive your information from other companies
• May request information during surveys, contests, and sweepstakes
• Collects device information 
• Uses cookies
• May store information on systems in the US and around the world
• May share non-personal (aggregate) data with partners and advertisers
• Past information about your account may be available to your email domain administrator
• May disclose your information in legal matters
• Gives you opportunities to connect with third parties, your permission required
• May share personal information during a merge or acquisition