'Facebook Disconnect' Built By Google Engineer Brian Kennish

Facebook Connect is a platform that integrates websites, software, and more with Facebook. As the social network explains, Facebook Connect "allows users to take their Facebook identity, network, and privacy settings with them as they browse and interact with the rest of the Web."

In light of Facebook's highly publicized privacy missteps, some users may be rethinking their relationship with the Web's most popular social network. If you're one of them, Facebook Disconnect may be for you.

Google engineer Brian Kennish has created Facebook Disconnect, an extension for Google Chrome that covers your tracks while you surf the Web and, according to Kennish's description, "blocks all traffic from third-party sites to Facebook servers," while still allowing you access to Facebook.com.

According to TechCrunch, Kennish created "Disconnect" as an alternative to deleting his own Facebook account. "Facebook is notified whenever you visit one of the more than one million sites on the web that use Facebook Connect and has a history of leaking personally identifiable information to third parties," Kennish explains in his description of the extension. He also notes that, although he is an employee of Google, "Disconnect" is a personal project. He told TechCrunch, "Nobody at Google asked or encouraged me to do so, or probably, even knows who I am."

The Huffington Post tested "Disconnect" and, as the screenshots below show, after downloading the extension, Facebook integration features no longer appeared on "Connected" sites. In addition, Life Hacker also noticed less Facebook-related "clutter" on pages that had previously displayed Facebook integration.

See screenshots of a "Disconnected" page (below) and tell us what you think about "Facebook Disconnect" in the comments section. If you are a Google Chrome user and want to try "Facebook Disconnect" for yourself, click here. To read more about safeguarding your information on Facebook, click here.

BEFORE AND AFTER DISCONNECT:

Comments

[jsgaetano]

03:57 PM on 10/26/2010

Excellent. Now maybe Google can write an app which protects us from Google.

[Richard Lauren]

12:58 AM on 10/24/2010

Excellent move, only problem is the other "leaking" of your personal information to Google when using all their services.

It won't be long before this will be available for Firefox so there is hope on the horizon.

[WontonTiger]

01:58 PM on 10/22/2010

I know I'm asking a lot (considering you are a Google Engineer), however did you make anything like this for Firefox? If you'd consider something like this for the fox, 1000's if not 10,000s of people will appreciate it.

Anyone aware of such a thing?

[binarystar]

01:32 PM on 10/22/2010

HP wins hypocrite site of the year for posting this article.

You guys could really just remove facebook connect from your site. It's especially irresponsible on a political based site.

[Richard Lauren]

12:58 AM on 10/24/2010

Agreed

[Swami Salami]

01:02 AM on 10/25/2010

me too... bunch of irresponsible pundits...

[paulbenjouse]

11:58 AM on 10/22/2010

Brilliant... and good luck. You deserve to make a bundle.

Paul Benjou

www.MyOpenKimono.com

[Lex10]

11:55 AM on 10/22/2010

Now we need one for huffpo.

[Mallory27]

11:29 AM on 10/22/2010

I still don't understand why more people don't delete their Facebook accounts. It's intrusive and boring. Why bother?

[commonsense79]

11:15 AM on 10/22/2010

I'll give it a shot. Facebook is getting tired

[DrReve]

11:10 AM on 10/22/2010

Thanks Kenney-boy. We appreciate you. :)

[SamEasy]

10:52 AM on 10/22/2010

It's getting near time to build a 'Google Disconnect'.

[traveler291]

10:40 AM on 10/22/2010

how about this; just disconnect from facebook altogether.

[Sanjeev Shan]

10:11 AM on 10/22/2010

Ken, you are awesome!

[jennytaylia]

09:52 AM on 10/22/2010

*applauds* Thank you for creating this! It's getting added to my Chrome on my home computer (don't use it at work).

[CakeOrDeath]

09:37 AM on 10/22/2010

When Google takes over the world, I hope it rules benevolently.

[thecoffeegod]

09:29 AM on 10/22/2010

The privacy setting on my FB account are set on kill not stun. I do not broadcast personal information on the internet. I am tracked enough by way of the government. The only way to be completely off the grid is to live in a yurt in the middle of Siberia with no contact from anybody or anything.