The Cambridge Analytica scandal continues to splash the most popular social network in the world. Faced with the growing power of Internet users' questions, Facebook has just put online a tool allowing all users to know if their personal data has been stolen..
How to know if Cambridge Analytica has stolen my personal data
Internet users are becoming more and more sensitive to everything related to the security of their personal data . 9 out of 10 people are also worried about the future of private information circulating on the internet and mainly on social networks.
The crisis currently shaking Facebook is unlikely to reassure them. The American giant revealed a few days ago that no less than 87 million users (and not 50 million as originally announced) have had their personal data stolen by a British consulting and analysis company..
The vast majority of accounts affected by this theft belong to people living on American soil. However, according to several surveys, hundreds of thousands of French people are also concerned by this case. So how do you know if your Facebook data has been stolen by the British company?
The names of the people targeted by the Cambridge Analytica scandal
The American group Facebook wants to be transparent and tries to respond to the doubts of Internet users. After the mea culpa of its CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the social network has just launched a tool to find out if your personal data has been stolen by the company Cambridge Analytica . We explain how it works.
- Open Facebook in your web browser
- Log in using your credentials
- Click on this link which automatically links to a help page containing the tool
If you are not among the people targeted by the Cambridge Analytica attack, you will see the following message displayed in your browser: According to our reports, neither you nor your Facebook friends have logged into This Is Your Digital Life. Therefore, it does not appear that This Is Your Digital Life shared your Facebook information with Cambridge Analytica. 
As a reminder, This Is Your Digital Life is the name of the application used by the British company to siphon personal data. It was actually a personality-based quiz. The latter was removed in 2015 from the platform..
Persons concerned with the theft of personal information will receive a notification
Facebook users don't always see and understand the consequences of what they do on the platform. That's why, starting April 9, people affected by data theft will receive an automatic notification from Facebook.
In an effort to restore public confidence, the social network has implemented various tools to allow their users to check if they have been impacted by the scandal. The latter unfortunately have only a purely informative role. If you are among those affected by the theft of private data, it is already too late.
You will still be able to know what type of data is likely to have been stolen. Indeed, the tool displays the list of personal information that was accessible to the public when the This Is Your Digital Life application was launched. A very small consolation. Here is the complete procedure to permanently delete your Facebook account.
How to protect personal data more effectively on Facebook
From today, Facebook undertakes to make every effort to guarantee the protection of the data of the users of its platform. The American giant will no longer allow applications, for example, to access information such as status, personalized friends list, professional career, religious or political opinions.
Facebook will now display a link at the very top of the news feed so that all members can find out what information they have shared with the apps. The security system will also benefit from a small facelift. Personal data management parameters will be completely redesigned in order to make them more accessible.
Sorting through Facebook applications
The confidentiality of information shared on Facebook is an ultra-sensitive subject for many Internet users. It is therefore advisable to pay attention to what one writes on Facebook and especially with whom one shares them. Unless you are a recognized star, it is better to avoid activating the general public mode by default.
Also be careful with the apps you use. Even if This Is Your Digital Life that caused the Cambridge Analytica scandal has been banned, it is possible that certain dangerous applications will constantly monitor your actions on Facebook. To combat these abuses, the American company has simplified the interface for removing apps.
- Launch the Facebook app
- Open the settings by clicking on the Menu button (3 dashes)
- Click on the Connect with Facebook option
- Then select the apps you want to remove
Note that since the beginning of the month, all applications not used for 3 months will no longer be able to access your personal data. This hibernation process will prevent your personal data from being intercepted by a third party.
