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LinkedIn Ditches Feature That Was a 'Dream For Attackers'

angry tapir writes "LinkedIn is shutting down Intro, its recently launched mobile service for connecting people over email, that raised security concerns. Intro was launched last October and described at the time as a 'dream come true for hackers' The service was made for the iPhone, and was designed to grab LinkedIn profile information and insert it into emails received on phones. The service displayed that information to the recipient from the email's sender if the sender was also on LinkedIn."

70 comments

  1. I too have a dream by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    That one day, my four little children...will one day be able to use Slashdot without the beta layout.

  2. Re:Fork slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have to say I agree with this comment, folks. Yep.

  3. Re:PETA SUCKS by SeaFox · · Score: 0

    FUCK PETA! ...Wait, what are we angry about, again?

    The mistreatment of animalistic Slashdotters at the hands of Dice and their experiments in website design!

  4. Re:Fork slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can I keep my low UIDs?

  5. Linkedin is now utterly worthless by tkrotchko · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The little utility it had at one time was ruined when they decided to sell your information to salespeople so they can "link" with you and try to sell you stuff.

    One thing I don't need is more salespeople contacting me and wanting to sell me stuff.

    Also their random-recommendations has been a joke from day 1.

    I have to ask why anybody even uses the service any more.

    --
    You were mistaken. Which is odd, since memory shouldn't be a problem for you
    1. Re:Linkedin is now utterly worthless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

      What are you talking about? What does that have to do with Beta?

    2. Re:Linkedin is now utterly worthless by KingOfBLASH · · Score: 4, Informative

      How about because corporate recruiters and headhunters use it (and seem to like it)?

      I'd delete my linked in profile in a second if not for the fact that a) I'm unemployed and hoping it'll help me get a job and b) my last job came via LinkedIn so I view it as a necessary evil and c) quite a few job postings require LinkedIn as the only method of application.

    3. Re:Linkedin is now utterly worthless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Actually, I run a niche business and at least 60% of business comes from word of mouth off LinkedIn. Not bad for free.

    4. Re:Linkedin is now utterly worthless by hsmith · · Score: 2

      The worst part to me is the useless shit spam recruiting emails. No, I don't want your shitty job with a shitty description - nor will I do your job and recommend a friend.

      Strangest of all is LinkedIn has an amazing social graph on you, yet they show you the most mundane and useless articles - which you'd have no interest in.

    5. Re:Linkedin is now utterly worthless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Recruiter are paper pushers Had this one tell me I did not have enough security experience, based on my resume. Told him I could send him an updated resume if he sent me his public key... I never heard back from the moron. Wonder if he has recommendations for security in his profile

    6. Re:Linkedin is now utterly worthless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      One thing I don't need is more salespeople contacting me and wanting to sell me stuff.

      Have you tried reading LinkedIn on a Nokia Lumia 1025? It's a designer phone that even makes LinkedIn better.

      Try the new Nokia Lumia 1025 with Microsoft Windows 8.1. It's very popular.

    7. Re:Linkedin is now utterly worthless by KingOfBLASH · · Score: 2

      Asking a recruiter for a public key, while satisfying probably didn't help with your chance of getting a job.

      There's no need for Recruiters and HR to have the kind of technical skills you need for your position.

    8. Re:Linkedin is now utterly worthless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why not change your profile as to why people can contact you? If they do anyways, you can report them.

    9. Re:Linkedin is now utterly worthless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nope. linkedin is dead to me. In fact, when I interview candidates for IT positions one of the first things I do is find their linkedin page and see how much confidential or semi-confidential information they have divulged about their former employers.

      In fact, I had a small disagreement with one of our IT Security Analysts about linkedin. He said it was safe. Challenge accepted. Linkedin was my first stop. Within under 5 minutes of linkedin data mining and a couple of search logarithms, I had some pretty embarrassing personal info about him. Hands down, I won that little argument.

    10. Re:Linkedin is now utterly worthless by Minwee · · Score: 1

      Within under 5 minutes of linkedin data mining and a couple of search logarithms, I had some pretty embarrassing personal info about him.

      I think you just revealed some pretty embarrassing information about your knowledge of basic mathematics, computer science and the English language.

  6. Remember when there was no Dice? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    :')

  7. Netcraft confirms: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Slashdot is dying. This time it is no joke. :(

    1. Re:Netcraft confirms: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      RIP pre-beta Slashdot. RIP pre-dice days :(

    2. Re:Netcraft confirms: by flyingfsck · · Score: 1

      Not until Netcraft confirms it.

      --
      Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
  8. Joining the Slashcott in 47 mins. by seandiggity · · Score: 4, Informative

    ...and also removing any /. RSS feeds on my Web portals, with a message explaining the reason for the change to users. http://soylentnews.org/ is the beginning of the new /. alternative

    --
    Geeks like to think that they can ignore politics, you can leave politics alone, but politics won't leave you alone.-rms
    1. Re:Joining the Slashcott in 47 mins. by chebucto · · Score: 4, Informative

      Nice UID! I got mine while trying to get the fabled UID=1,000,000. Not sure who ended up getting that prize.

      Just a reminder, comp.misc on Usenet is being used as a temporary discussion forum. Usenet access is available through eternal-sepetember.org

      Let's hope Dice reverse their decision and cancel plans for Beta. If they don't, though, this is as good a time as any for people to break away from slashdot as a group. Good luck to everyone in the slashcott.

      --
      The English word fart is one of the oldest words in the English vocabulary.
    2. Re:Joining the Slashcott in 47 mins. by runeghost · · Score: 1

      Thanks, and thanks again for the pointer to comp.misc. I hope everyone who stays enjoys classic slashdot while they can.

    3. Re:Joining the Slashcott in 47 mins. by oodaloop · · Score: 2

      I registered there yesterday. I do hope that Soylent doesn't sue. I realize they're both named after the movie, but it will likely lead to confusion when people google the words soylent and news.

      --
      Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
    4. Re:Joining the Slashcott in 47 mins. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sadly, soylent is firewalled off here, marked "file sharing". I can get to the front page, but not at the example of how it will look. Oh, well, when I get home tonight... Dummies in my IT dept... they have all of Fox News firewalled off as "sports" and many science sites "entertainment."

  9. Re: Slashdot is now utterly worthless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    You should delete your Slashdot account as well.

    Fuck beta.

  10. We are not an "audience" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    We are contributors of stories and comments and "News for Nerds, stuff that matters".

    Without us Slashdot is just another lame webscraper.

    If the people of Dice want "Slashdot" to become a dead name like "AOL", well go ahead; you're doing a fine job. Just don't act surprised in a few years when you're sitting on a worthless name wondering what the he'll happened. It's not like you weren't warned.

    1. Re:We are not an "audience" by rmstar · · Score: 2

      We are contributors of stories and comments and "News for Nerds, stuff that matters".

      Without us Slashdot is just another lame webscraper.

      The kind of strident and petulant arrogance reflected in this and other similar comment makes me look forward to the slashcott, when all the morons like you just stay away. If you take a story this one, and substract the ant-beta vandalism from the comments, you end up with a very high level discussion forum.

      And to the people suggesting usenet as an alternative: hell yeah, go ahead and have fun.

      As to linkdin, I can't comment as I just joined yesterday. Looks OK. Found a few folks that I hadn't seen in years. What scared me a little is that they want me to import my address book, like that, unfiltered. But given the nature of modern employment, I see little alternative to being a member, unfortunately.

      I see that as a major problem. Someone looking for a job has no choice but to engage in the dubious customs of the prospective employers. It really is a bit of good luck that the linkedin people don't abuse their power more, the way facebook does it.

    2. Re:We are not an "audience" by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      But given the nature of modern employment, I see little alternative to being a member, unfortunately.

      Interesting.

      I've never been on linkedin or ANY other social network, yet never had a problem getting jobs.

      In fact, I find it to be a plus since many gigs in the past have been security related, with clearances required.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  11. FUCK BETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuck Dice

  12. Piece of shit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    LinkedIn sucks hardcore balls to begin with. People deserve whatever compromises they get if they use it.

  13. The slashcott begins at midnight local time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    A boycott of slashdot (a 'slashcott') will begin at midnight tonight, and last until midnight on February 17th.

    Plans to replace Slashdot's user interface were first announced in October, 2013. The initial announcement garnered extensive comment, almost exclusively negative. Concerns were raised about the style and the substance of the 'Beta' design. In style, use of images and whitespace meant lower data density and difficult reading. In substance, it became difficult to read the context of comments, or to simply read through a story with more than a dozen comments. User comments are central to what Slashdot is, and many users thought that the Beta design would seriously impede the flow of conversations.

    And so, when it was announced on February 5th that the move over to the Beta design was beginning, users protested the change. For a day, story comment sections were almost completely filled with comments about the plans for Beta.

    Then, on February 6th, Slashdot responded and made concessions. They acknowledged some problems with Beta, and pledged to slow down the switchover.

    The reason given for the switchover to Beta is to have a site that is "more accessible and shareable by a wider audience". For many users, those ill-defined reasons to not justify discarding a discussion system that has evolved over more than fifteen years.

    Users who still demand that plans for Beta be cancelled will be taking part in a Slaschott between February 10th and 17th, and will not be commenting on or visting Slashdot.

    In the meantime, alternatives to Slashdot are being established.

    Many are going to comp.misc on Usenet. For free access to NNTP, see eternal-september.org, which will give you access to comp.misc, as well as other treasures like comp.lang.c

    Others are setting up a a web based alternative to Slashdot, and they could use help. See soylentnews.org for more details.

    For a Free Slashdot - Join the Slashcott!

    1. Re:The slashcott begins at midnight local time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      FUCK BETA

    2. Re:The slashcott begins at midnight local time by SpzToid · · Score: 2

      I tried to visit eternal-september.org, and it is not loading. OpenDNS didn't display the error-code, but there's no server.

      Maybe /. could setup an alternate channel for folks to vent, so those of us that would just to take a break from working or whatnot can read some nerdy news once in a while?

      Miss you all, the vocal bunch you are. Best of luck. Let me know how things work out, but please don't abuse the news or comments on the news.

      --
      You can't be ahead of the curve, if you're stuck in a loop.
    3. Re:The slashcott begins at midnight local time by Barsteward · · Score: 1

      just fuck off and boycott to your hearts content, i totally fed up with it. get to the head of the queue and go now

      --
      "The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." - Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
  14. Re:Lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    The boycott hasn't started for everyone yet. Fucker.

  15. Re:FUCK BETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Huh? Is the Slashcott cancelled?

  16. Thanks for the Memory by TheloniousToady · · Score: 1

    Thanks for the memory
    Of Taco in command
    Establishing his brand
    Of News for Nerds
    Both gems and turds
    Distracting us as planned
    How lovely it was

    Thanks for the memory
    Of Slashdot in its prime
    With articles sublime
    Before the corporate suits
    In search of low hung fruits
    Had lost a single dime
    How lovely it was

    Thanks for the memory
    When commenters would jest
    Inform, or interest
    With points bestown
    Or karma blown
    Such fun - who would have guessed?
    How lovely it was

    Good night, and God bless.

  17. Re:FUCK BETA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You see, there are these things called timezones...

  18. Slashcott! by LaminatorX · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This site used to be great. Even in it's latter days, it's been good. That is poised to change. Before long, it will be mediocre, and ordinary.

    I didn't see a problem when Dice Holdings initially bought Slashdot. I figured there would be efforts to drive nerd traffic towards their job listings and such. That was fine. We all need jobs.

    Things have changed now. Beyond the shifts in story choices, the slashvertisements, and so on, something fundamental has changed: Slashdot's owners do not appreciate it.

    Their recent financials show that they have written its value as an asset down to zero. They have legally claimed it to be worthless. That is at the root of what is happening now. They want to fundamentally change the nature of this site in order to remake it into something with big growth potential.

    Beta is just the latest symptom of this disease. It will not be the last. In striving to make it into s site that will bring them a growing user base and growing revenue per user, they have shown a willingness to dumb down the interface in the name of making it more accessible to newcomers, to cast aside essential elements of decade-spanning community culture, and to plow ahead with changes in the face of overwhelmingly negative user feedback.

    This is not going to change. This will not go away. I will not support it. I will be gone for this entire week, in protest. While away, I will work to create a new community where things can be run with quality user discussions as the paramount objective.

    Be seeing you.

    1. Re: Slashcott! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If they do this, Slashdot will be just another tech blog, like Engadget and the like. Slashdot is unique and special and has a unique audience. It's open commenting is the best part of the site. No registration and (almost!) no censorship of comments. Sure I have to read a racist or spam comment from time to time, but those quickly get -1, so no big deal.

      Slashdot is special. Why they want to make it "just another tech blog" is mindboggling. If anything, they should go in the opposite direction make it geekier, so it really stands out.

      I really hope they change their mind and cancel the beta, but I doubt it. RIP Slashdot. Nice knowing ya

  19. See You Next Monday! by Bob9113 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Have a good week off, Slashdot -- see you next Monday.

    1. Re:See You Next Monday! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When next Monday comes, I dream the headlines will have: Slashdot Ditches Feature That Was a 'Dream For Dicers'

  20. Re: Slashdot is now utterly worthless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    +1

  21. Re: Slashdot is now utterly worthless by KingOfBLASH · · Score: 1

    Slashdot is only worthless because of anonymous fuckheads who insist on posting crap like this on completely unrelated subjects.

    Seriously get over yourself.

  22. Re: Slashdot is now utterly worthless by Barsteward · · Score: 1

    you should spend your time here www.disney.com as it is targeted at your mental age group and take all your supporters with you

    --
    "The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." - Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
  23. Re:PETA SUCKS by flyingfsck · · Score: 1

    What have you got against People Eating Tasty Animals? Now go back to your carrots and salad Bugs Bunny! Oh, and Buck FETA, or Hack BETA...

    --
    Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
  24. Re: Slashdot is now utterly worthless by flyingfsck · · Score: 0

    Such as? And Fuck BETA to you too.

    --
    Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
  25. The inevitable joke.... by Lisias · · Score: 4, Funny

    LinkedIn Ditches Feature That Was a 'Dream For Attackers'

    They shutdown the site?

    --
    Lisias@Earth.SolarSystem.OrionArm.MilkyWay.Local.Virgo.Universe.org
  26. WTF by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    WTF happened to Slashdot?

    Also, why does my machine grind to a JS halt when clicking "preview comment"?

  27. Don't care by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuck off you childish twats. Don't come back either.

  28. You're joking , right? by Viol8 · · Score: 1

    I've never worked for a single company that gave a rats backside about linked-in (or facebook) profiles. Sure , on occasion when I've interviewed I've done a google on the candidate but thats about it. We always went by the CV. End.

    "quite a few job postings require LinkedIn as the only method of application"

    I would suggest you avoid those sort of idiotic companies then. Though I'm not convinced they actually exist outside of your mind.

    You have heard of job search websites, right?

    1. Re:You're joking , right? by laffer1 · · Score: 1

      Then it must be true because of your anecdotal evidence. Seriously, it's gotten me jobs and I've looked at linked in profiles when deciding on candidates.

    2. Re: You're joking , right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Linked in IS a job search website.

      I'm currently interviewing for my dream job with a company that contacted me through my linkedin profile.

  29. Thought you could turn that off? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Recruiting emails? I thought you could turn that feature off? Do you have a bunch of recruiters linked to you or just a very large pool?

  30. Re: Slashdot is now utterly worthless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No need, that's what slashdot is becoming. Have you SEEN Beta? What you're witnessing isn't a bunch of trolls trying to interrupt commenting, it's a protest. Not against Beta, but against the fact that soon it will be the only interface.

    Slashdot will be worthless then. In two years, slashdot will be a ghost town if Dice keeps their madnes up.

  31. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion