See 18 Things You Didn’t Realize Facebook Knows About You

Facebook has recently come under fire over user information-related unethical practices. The bashing against owner Mark Zuckerberg, mostly came from the US Congress  with questions which led to revelations about practices by Facebook which did not protect the privacy of users. The creepy way Facebook spies on it’s users have been detailed by Congress and made available to the public.

The 454-page report was packaged based responses of Zuckerberg when he appeared before Congress in April and faced questions over the Cambridge Analytica crises, many of which he couldn’t answer. Here is a list of what you never knew facebook was gathering about you. Some may not come as a surprise but some will surprise you indeeed.

Device information

Facebook tracks what device you using to access its social media.

To do this, it will log the hardware manufacturer of your smartphone, connected television, tablet, computer, or other internet-connected device.

Facebook also tracks the operating system, software versions and web browser.

If you’re using a smartphone, it will also keep a record of the mobile carrier, while internet service providers (ISPs) will be stored for users using a Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection to access Facebook.

Mouse movements

Facebook watches the movements of your computer mouse on-screen when you are interacting with the social network.

The company says it does so to help fight against bots on the social network.

App and file names

Tracking the app you use to interact with Facebook helps the company learn the types of devices you favour.

Facebook keeps a note of the file names in your system for the same reason.

This data is synced with your profile, and will influence the types of advertisements you see when you launch Facebook.

Device operations

Facebook wants to learn about how you use its social network.

To do so, it records whether you keep your Facebook browser window at the foreground of your computer screen – or whether you tend to leave it in the background, hidden behind other windows.

Facebook also watches the ‘operations and behaviours performed on the device’ while you’re active on the social network.

Device connections

The social network monitors a slew of different connections from your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or smart TV.

It monitors the signal strength of your mobile data connection (if you’re using one), Bluetooth signals, and information about the nearby Wi-Fi hotspots and cell towers.

This data can be used to establish whether you typically use Facebook in one particular location, or when you’re on-the-move.

Nearby access points, beacons and cell towers can also be used to work out a rough location for the users, which Facebook can use to tailor search results and adverts.

Devices that are nearby

Facebook admits that it gathers information about other devices that are nearby or on the same Wi-Fi network when you login or open the app.

The Menlo Park-based company says it tracks this data to help users perform tasks that require multiple devices, like streaming a video from their phone to their TV.

Battery level

Battery level of your device is being monitored by Facebook.

The company says it tracks ‘hardware changes’ on any devices running its service.