Facebook is now pushing a product dubbed "Protect," the VPN client from a data-security app maker named Onavo acquired by the social media giant back in 2013. But critics have been quick to point out that the offering is little more than glorified spyware, giving Facebook ample ability to track your behavior online, without providing any of the safety and security benefits a traditional VPN is supposed to provide.
As earlier reports have indicated, the software insists it's protecting user security, but is simply collecting and analyzing the data, providing Facebook insight into which competitors you may be visiting, and for how long.
Ironically that's not the only security gaffe Facebook was accused of this week.
The company is also taking heat for implementing a version of two-factor authentication that then proceeds to spam the provided phone number with promotions completely unrelated to security.
What's next: a Facebook antivirus app that kicks you in the crotch then pees on your rug?
I logged into Facebook a couple days ago, which was some days after past Facebook employees had come out about how bad Facebook is for humanity, and was greeted with a survey asking if I thought that Facebook was good for the world, I got a huge laugh from that. I gave the middle answer (can neither confirm or deny) because it is what you make of it based on your friends and what information you provide it, but it's shady stuff like this that puts them in evil territory since you know their intentions are to collect the data from that VPN service.