Within the next few days, every single Facebook user will be met with a request for a verified phone number, which will apparently help users “stay in control” of their accounts. This is partially a response to security breaches at LinkedIn, Last.fm and eHarmony, but it’s also because Facebook wants to know more stuff about you.

The idea is that in the event of a hacked account, users can have their password reset via SMS, avoiding the need for email and the possible security compromises that go with that – especially given the fact that people are lazy and tend to use the same password for everything.

Which makes sense, up to a point; it’d suck to be locked out of one’s Facebook account, and having multiple ways to avoid that is probably smart.

Except the timing – coming so soon after the massive LinkedIn breach – does make it feel a little like Facebook might be cashing in on heightened security fears to gain access to millions of user phone numbers to do with what they will. By which I mean advertise at.

Especially bearing in mind that Facebook has about three identity-confirming processes in place already, requiring users to confirm alternate email address or to tag friends that they ought to be able to recognize before logging in to accounts from unfamiliar IPs.

Obviously if the threat of losing access to your account gives you the night-terrors, by all means hand over your number like somebody lonely at a bar – but, you know. Worry a little about giving up data for no immediately apparent reason.

[Source: TC]