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LinkedIn Apologizes For Trying To Connect Everyone In Real Life (vocativ.com)

LinkedIn has apologized for a vague new update that told some iPhone users its app would begin sharing their data with nearby users without further explanation. From a report: The update prompted outrage on Twitter after cybersecurity expert Rik Ferguson received a strange alert when he opened the resume app to read a new message: "LinkedIn would like to make data available to nearby Bluetooth devices even when you're not using the app." That gave Ferguson, vice president of research at the cybersecurity firm Trend Micro, a handful of concerns, he told Vocativ. Among them: "the lack of specificity, which data, when, under what conditions, to which devices, why does it need to happen when I'm not using the app, what are the benefits to me, where is the feature announcement and explanation, why wasn't it listed in the app update details." Reached for comment, LinkedIn said it's a mistake -- that some iPhone users were accidentally subject to undeveloped test feature the company is still working on.

71 comments

  1. It was a mistake by thegarbz · · Score: 4, Interesting

    you found out about this horrible feature before we officially released it.

    1. Re:It was a mistake by tomhath · · Score: 0

      You found out about this horrible feature before you clicked through the EULA without reading it.

    2. Re:It was a mistake by zifn4b · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You found out about this horrible feature before you clicked through the EULA without reading it.

      You don't need to read a EULA to understand that social networking is a huge risk to privacy. LinkedIn, in particular, wants your details as transparent as possible because of who pays their bills. That's precisely what they want. They want to know if you're too smart to figure them out or just smart enough to work for them without asking too many questions and to be a good, little subservient drone.

      --
      We'll make great pets
  2. I like the idea by 110010001000 · · Score: 2

    I could use this to beg for a job from thought-leaders who happen to be nearby. Then I could move out of my Mom's basement.

    1. Re:I like the idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The only thought leader in range is your Mom.

    2. Re:I like the idea by DogDude · · Score: 1

      What's a "thought-leader"?

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    3. Re:I like the idea by 110010001000 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Dude, its LinkedIn. Everyone is a "thought-leader" on there. It means they spend time spouting bullshit instead of actually working.

    4. Re:I like the idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you creimer?

    5. Re:I like the idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      are you APK?

    6. Re:I like the idea by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      Hence the problem.

    7. Re:I like the idea by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2

      Are you creimer?

      I AM CREIMER!

    8. Re:I like the idea by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2

      What's a "thought-leader"?

      Influencer.

      Individuals who have the power to affect purchase decisions of others because of their (real or perceived) authority, knowledge, position, or relationship. In consumer spending, members of a peer group or reference group act as influencers. In business to business (organizational) buying, internal employees (engineers, managers, purchasers) or external consultants act as influencers.

      http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/influencers.html

    9. Re:I like the idea by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      No, creimer has a $50k job in Silicon Valley.

    10. Re:I like the idea by davester666 · · Score: 1

      She definitely wouldn't hire him, as she knows his work ethic. And his porn habits.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    11. Re:I like the idea by zifn4b · · Score: 1

      I could use this to beg for a job from thought-leaders who happen to be nearby.

      Thought leader = bullshit artist. They usually have no clue how to do anything useful in practice.

      --
      We'll make great pets
    12. Re:I like the idea by zifn4b · · Score: 1

      What's a "thought-leader"?

      Influencer.

      Incorrect. Thought leader essentially means a visionary thinker. Influencers are negotiators a la sales people. You often see the more profile people have both but usually not knowing how to do a damn thing in practice.

      --
      We'll make great pets
    13. Re:I like the idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So he's homeless then.

  3. NEXT! by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 2

    Does anyone still take LinkedIn seriously? It's just marketing guys thses days, right? If someone looking for work with my team forwarded their LinkedIn page as a serious part of their resume, I would write them off as morons.

    --
    If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    1. Re:NEXT! by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      Are people really trying to work for a guy named Frosty Piss? Have things gotten THAT bad? Damn you, Trump!

    2. Re:NEXT! by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      I got 800+ connections with recruiter I've talked to over a 20+ year career. If I was doing an active job search, I would be tracking up 32 position and talking or emailing that many recruiters each day. The funny thing is... I've never gotten a job through LinkedIn. I had better luck getting interviews through Indeed.com.

    3. Re:NEXT! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Works great for finding the right person in an organization for sales

    4. Re:NEXT! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shouldn't have put that bed out in the cold.

    5. Re:NEXT! by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 1

      Guess who's resume I just circular filed...

      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    6. Re:NEXT! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All I've ever gotten from Indeed is spam. I've been hearing their radio campaign a lot lately too. As near as I can figure, Indeed is full of fake jobs and pushy ads for Uber and Lyft.

    7. Re:NEXT! by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2

      All I've ever gotten from Indeed is spam. I've been hearing their radio campaign a lot lately too. As near as I can figure, Indeed is full of fake jobs and pushy ads for Uber and Lyft.

      The trick with Indeed is to watch for when a new job position gets posted and call that recruiter immediately. If you're one the first callers in 15 minutes of the posting, you're very likely to get an interview immediately.

    8. Re:NEXT! by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      Trumps? I don't blame ya!

    9. Re:NEXT! by GNious · · Score: 1

      I've gotten people reaching out via LinkedIn about job-offers at various times.
      Admittedly recently it's been for jobs working with my last employer's SCM system, and there's no way in hell I'll subject myself to that shit again*

      *: Both their system, and the employer, who'd likely be a supplier to these companies.

    10. Re:NEXT! by hawk · · Score: 1

      Actually, I've never even *heard* of a case of anyone getting a job offer (or offering one) from linkedin.

      I fail to comprehend why anyone still even looks at it.

      hawk

  4. What?? by JohnFen · · Score: 1

    To LinkedIn has decided that they need to become Tinder now? SIlly me, I remember when it was about business.

    1. Re:What?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I get it depends on what kind of business your talking about, I'd love to get up in the business of some of the sales women that step into my office.

    2. Re:What?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In the social media era, there's no difference between dating apps and job boards.

    3. Re:What?? by DogDude · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I remember when it was about business.

      It hasn't changed. It was always about their business, and it still is. The business is: you give them information, and then they sell it.

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    4. Re:What?? by freeze128 · · Score: 2

      I remember when there was NO LinkedIn. It hasn't really improved job seeking too much - You still need a resume.

    5. Re: What?? by Type44Q · · Score: 2

      Doctor, huh.

  5. owned by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    owned

  6. Let's not go to far with this... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

    LinkedIn is awesome. When I got an iPhone a few years ago and installed the LinkedIn app, I was able to merge all my Yahoo Mail contacts with LinkedIn profiles. I was able to connect to the 800+ recruiters I've talked to over the last 20+ years. But I still get annoyed that LinkedIn periodically wants to spam all my email addresses again.

    1. Re:Let's not go to far with this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      With 800+ recruiter connections over a 20+ year career and still paid $50,000, creimer is a big fat talkative turd.

    2. Re:Let's not go to far with this... by DarkOx · · Score: 1

      I was able to connect to the 800+ recruiters I've talked to over the last 20+ years.

      That is most unusual definition of awesome I have ever read.

      --
      Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
    3. Re:Let's not go to far with this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You've "talked" to about two recruiters per month over the last 20 years. What did you talk about? How full of shit you are?

    4. Re:Let's not go to far with this... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2

      With 800+ recruiter connections over a 20+ year career and still paid $50,000 [...]

      That's $50K+, not $50K. I'm not a programmer, computer engineer or software artitecht. I've done software testing, help desk/desktop support, PC refresh projects, built out a data center, equipped 300+ laptops for 11ac rollout testing, and, currently, doing InfoSec for government IT. If you need a miracle worker, want the job done right the first time and clean up after the last guy who did it wrong, I'm your guy.

      [...] creimer is a big fat talkative turd.

      Wrong! I'm an asshole. Otherwise, I wouldn't be in IT support.

    5. Re:Let's not go to far with this... by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      Wow, 20+ years and 800+ recruiters? You must be making a LOT of money!

    6. Re:Let's not go to far with this... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2

      You've "talked" to about two recruiters per month over the last 20 years.

      These days I typically get 20+ emails and phone calls from recruiters. I'm not even do an active job search. An active job search would be on phone and email for eight hours straight each day (including weekends and holidays).

      What did you talk about?

      Whatever positions they're offering at the moment, if I know of anyone else who would qualify, or what other recruiters are looking for in the marketplace (I don't mind trading info but I detest being pumped for information and will ban recruiters/companies).

      How full of shit you are?

      My shit is quite normal and regular. Thank you for asking.

    7. Re:Let's not go to far with this... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      Wow, 20+ years and 800+ recruiters? You must be making a LOT of money!

      At the end of the day, it's still a numbers game. The last time I had an active job search, I went to 60+ interviews over eight months to get three job offers at the same time.

    8. Re:Let's not go to far with this... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      That is most unusual definition of awesome I have ever read.

      If you don't mind being an contractor. My shortest assignment was four hours with four hours of notification. My current assignment is a five-year contract. Some people can't handle the stress of getting a new job and then start planning to get the next job for when the assignment is over.

    9. Re:Let's not go to far with this... by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      60+ interviews and only 3 job offers? You should have mentioned how good you were at your job where the guy had to lay you off because you were too efficient.

    10. Re:Let's not go to far with this... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      60+ interviews and only 3 job offers? You should have mentioned how good you were at your job where the guy had to lay you off because you were too efficient.

      Ancient history. Recruiters and hiring managers are only interested in the last three positions in the last three years. Besides, I didn't really want to explain that I was out of work for two years (2009-2010), underemployed for six months (working 20 hours per month), and filed for Chapter Seven bankruptcy in 2011. Some people find such details... tedious.

    11. Re:Let's not go to far with this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you need a miracle worker, want the job done right the first time and clean up after the last guy who did it wrong, I'm your guy.

      Sorry bruh, but if you're truly a "miracle worker," then you wouldn't be settling for 50k offers. If you're a miracle worker, you name your price, and companies come to you begging for the privilege of paying for some of your time.

      What you are is a questionably competent drone with delusions of grandeur. Seriously bro, for 25 dollars an hour in Silicon Valley, you might as well work at Starbucks - at least there, you'll get to see some hot pieces of ass come through, and maybe even pull a fatty or two for yourself, rather than sitting in the corner of an unfinished basement like an unloved piece of dick cheese, surrounded by a couple other mouth-breathing helpdesk trolls.

    12. Re:Let's not go to far with this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Some people find such details... tedious.

      But clearly, not you - I've read these same fucking details dozens of times here. Is there seriously ANY thread on Slashdot that you don't shit up telling people what a miserable financial failure you are?

    13. Re:Let's not go to far with this... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      [...] sitting in the corner of an unfinished basement like an unloved piece of dick cheese [...]

      When I did a PC refresh project for a local hospital, "the corner of an unfinished basement" was just around the corner from the morgue. Whenever the scent of vanilla was in the air, it meant that another dead stiff was brought down from upstairs.

      [...] a couple other mouth-breathing helpdesk trolls [,,,]

      I spent six weeks cleaning out their cave in between tickets and deployments by sorting, organizing and recycling old computer hardware, freeing up 600-sqft of floor space that the IT manager haven't seen in eight years.

    14. Re:Let's not go to far with this... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      Is there seriously ANY thread on Slashdot that you don't shit up telling people what a miserable financial failure you are?

      https://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10508865&cid=54265319
      http://slashdot.org/comments.p...
      https://slashdot.org/comments....
      https://slashdot.org/comments....
      https://slashdot.org/comments....

  7. An 'undeveloped feature' ??? by darthsilun · · Score: 1

    Inquiring minds want to know then, just what it was then. Did it just enter the code fully formed when nobody was looking?

    1. Re:An 'undeveloped feature' ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did it just enter the code fully formed when nobody was looking?

      In Kansas, they call that intelligent design.

    2. Re:An 'undeveloped feature' ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      And in Redmond, they call it Microsoft design. Same level of stupidity, with more rain.

    3. Re:An 'undeveloped feature' ??? by hawk · · Score: 1

      Spontaneous generation proved at last!

      Take *that*, Mr. Pasteur . . . :)

      hawk

  8. News Black Out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If anyone has information please share

  9. sounds like a good reason by FudRucker · · Score: 4, Informative

    to not trust any social media website with your personal information (are you listening facebook zombies?)

    --
    Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
    1. Re:sounds like a good reason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good luck finding a job since all the job boards have become social media.

    2. Re:sounds like a good reason by GeekWithAKnife · · Score: 1


      Now we know the sort of jobs you apply for...

      Good luck indeed.

      --
      A 'singular oddity' is an event that cannot be explained and only happens when you are alone.
    3. Re:sounds like a good reason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Use the Like button and leave me a good review if you enjoyed your blowjob.

  10. Funny title. by mikael · · Score: 1

    The title of this article sounds like something out of The Onion. "Google apologizes for trying to index every webpage in the world". "Intel apologizes for having the hottest CPU's in the industry".

    --
    Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
  11. Exactly! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    to not trust any social media website with your personal information (are you listening facebook zombies?)

    Slashdot included. Never -ever- create a log in for a website unless you really have to and then, use false credentials.

    ALL websites that demand registration to post or do whatever sell that data.

    This registering for an account is 100% for marketing purposes. There is no technical reason to do so. None.

    Most startups like it so they can go to the idiot VCs and say, "We have 'X' number of registered users!"

    And the VCs go -like the morons at Kleiner Perkins - "DUH!!! They have REjastarred losers! DUH! We Give them millions of dollars! DUH! Because registered users mean money! DUH! DUH! I Smart! I Kleiner Perkins! DUH!"

    And that's why we all have to register for an account on every gtoddom dipshit fucking forum just to look at someone's download of their data.

    Silicon Valley people are morons. VC are morons. There hasn't been an innovative product out of SV since Cisco.

  12. Nothing new by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This isn't the first time LinkedIn did something shady via their iPhone app. Frankly, I'm not sure why anyone would still trust them enough to install it.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:Nothing new by rainmouse · · Score: 1

      Yup I got burned when a small close [x] button was placed right next to a massive 'spam invites/connection requests to everyone you have sent an email to ever without any confirmation' button. I really did want to connect again to my stalking psycho ex and give her the idea I wanted to get back in touch.
      Fuck you LinkedIn. Never again!

  13. Best use for LinkedIn by TheSync · · Score: 1

    I like LinkedIn, especially because it is a great way to create ad-hoc industry forums for sharing news on developing niche technologies.

    But its main use for me is allowing me to figure out which company the salespeople I know are working at this week. Before I email a salesperson who I talked with six months ago, I check their LinkedIn to see if they still work at that company.

  14. Clumpiness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    LinkedIn is a creepy, kooky, cluster fuck, circus of confusion.

    Why did the www evolve into this clumping together of humans pretending to be social on a website?

  15. Bad security practices and double standards by ukoda · · Score: 3, Interesting

    My current pet peeve with LinkedIn is the weekly requests for access to my email contact list. Would you employ someone to work with technology who gave out their email password just to share their contact list? I emailed them to complain that if I didn't compromise my security the first time they asked why do they keep on asking? They bounced my email because they couldn't do a reverse lookup on my email server. Apparently a SPF record is not good enough for them, I need to have enough money to be able to pay for service that will allow reverse lookup. A real double standard considering they want access to my contact list.

    While I am complaining, I am really tempted to bounce any incoming emails with a noreply reply address. Is anyone doing that yet? If I am prepared to accept their email I think it is only reasonable they should be prepared to accept my reply.

    1. Re:Bad security practices and double standards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My solution for LinkedIn:

      /etc/mail % cat /etc/mail/access | grep linkedin
      linkedin.com REJECT

      Added this several years ago, haven't regretted it. Regarding your mail server, implement DKIM and DMARC if you haven't already. That may help. Make sure you do well on https://www.checktls.com. Apologies if this is obvious and you've already done it.

      --AC

  16. Insufficient apology by PoopMonkey · · Score: 1

    I'll accept their apology when the company shuts down and the senior management is fitted with cement shoes and goes for a swim in the middle of the Atlantic.

  17. Tired of being mined for data by iampiti · · Score: 1

    I'm really tired of being mined for data by every website/app. It's like there isn't any other possible business model. There're some services (not everything) that I'd be happy to pay for if I could be sure they wouldn't harverst and sell data not necessary for its basic functioning. You know, like what software licensing used to be: You pay some money you get a product that does only what it's supposed to.