RockMelt - a new browser with heavy emphasis on social networking

[zappaDPJ]

At least that's the way it appears... http://www.rockmelt.com/

Once you've scrapped away the thick layer of cheese, the video does seem to demonstrate a browser heavily integrated into social networking sites. Do I like it? No, I don't think I do. Do I admire its potential power? In a strange way I do, in the same way that my jaw dropped when I was greeted by name by a website I had never visited before.

I'm quite guarded against giving out my real life details. I do have a Facebook page but it's empty and there purely to test Facebook integration with websites and forums that I run. It's in the name of Mr Zappa Dpj of course and I was gob smacked just over a week ago when I found the wife of a real life friend giving me a 'poke'... or whatever it is real life friends do on such sites. I was even further astounded to see a greeting displayed on the website I'd never visited before, especially as it was using my real life name.

As yet I don't fully understand how either of these events occurred but I suspect the development of software like RockMelt might see these things becoming more of an every day occurrence for everybody. The Internet is starting to feel a bit like I imagine it might feel running naked across a stadium field at half time. All my well hidden bits are becoming exposed and I think I might be too old and grumpy to embrace it

[DorsetBoy]

AS you are required to log in via Farcebook it is a total non starter for me. 

[Gary]

AS you are required to log in via Farcebook it is a total non starter for me. 

? You can log in via an https page. If you follow the guides you can lock down facebook pretty well, I block all apps, I am not searchable to anyone (I search) my email is created for facebook only, pictures etc are not accessed by any third party apps or anyone other than my very small circle of friends who cannot tag me or use my images, I use the Bit Defender Facebook App to scan my profile for malware links, and I have a great time chatting to friends on there that I could not do via phone and its in real time, better than email for myself. Facebook is evil, so is Google, Micrososft, Apple and a million small sites that spam you if you are stupid. You control what you put on a social network, so if you post you life history, its your fault, if you are careful it can be fun.

[DorsetBoy]

? You can log in via an https page. If you follow the guides you can lock down facebook pretty well, I block all apps, I am not searchable to anyone (I search) my email is created for facebook only, pictures etc are not accessed by any third party apps or anyone other than my very small circle of friends who cannot tag me or use my images, I use the Bit Defender Facebook App to scan my profile for malware links, and I have a great time chatting to friends on there that I could not do via phone and its in real time, better than email for myself. Facebook is evil, so is Google, Micrososft, Apple and a million small sites that spam you if you are stupid. You control what you put on a social network, so if you post you life history, its your fault, if you are careful it can be fun.

Good luck with that Gary .

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/facebook-infested-with-new-worm-more-proof-site-is-insecure/6955?tag=nl.e550

You can be "locked down" and unsearchable but once you connect to a "friend" you are instantly exposed to a number of serious exploits. I have seen 1st hand a URL injection flaw which allows access to peoples pages and accounts, there are many other serious issues that have no patch and Facebook continue to add new features prior to dealing with the 100's of errors they have listed.

[Gary]

Good luck with that Gary .

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/facebook-infested-with-new-worm-more-proof-site-is-insecure/6955?tag=nl.e550

You can be "locked down" and unsearchable but once you connect to a "friend" you are instantly exposed to a number of serious exploits. I have seen 1st hand a URL injection flaw which allows access to peoples pages and accounts, there are many other serious issues that have no patch and Facebook continue to add new features prior to dealing with the 100's of errors they have listed.

Thats why I use the bitdefender app to scan my profile, if any of them does something stupid, it lets me know and you can remove it if they have a bad link due to an app it lets me know, but my friends like me don't use a miriad of apps. Bitdefender safego is the only app I use its native to facebook, its not on your pc or Mac and scans in real time all the links in all your friendships looking for malware, ok nothing is perfect but it helps.

  Yes there is always a risk on sites like this, also a lot of these are social engineering exploits, not opening a email with 'you in a video' is common sense as is not using dumb apps, I don't use any other than the safego one as mentioned above, my friends don't use them either. You can run into things just as bad when browsing the web Dorset, if you click on a bad link. Just because a site may or may not have issues does not mean I will keep my pc turned off in fear, facebook can be dangerous but so is the web, but facebook is huge so it gets the most press and of course if there is a nasty doing the rounds it gets noticed more.

Also since I am trapped indoors mostly 24/7 7 days a week its a chance to enjoy friendships that are just not accessible by other means. I enjoy that exchange and that's not going to change in a hurry. 

[Rik]

I found the wife of a real life friend giving me a 'poke'... or whatever it is real life friends do on such sites.

The best I've ever managed is a hug.