XDA forum member Marko! (hurray for exclamation marks in usernames) discovered that the current Facebook app in the Android market allows you to view photos of folks who aren’t on your friends list, as long as you can click on their name somewhere in your feed.
What, you didn’t actually think Facebook was totally secure, did you?
Here’s how it works:
When you click on someone’s name anywhere in the app, it loads a screen for their profile. That screen begins to load their name and public photo (like the web version), but then does a little check to make sure it can show you the rest of the profile. If you aren’t allowed to continue, the rest of the profile is blank with an option to add as a friend. However, during that security check, the tabs for photo and wall are already visible, and clicking them lets you navigate there effectively cancelling the security check.
In simpler terms, find someone you wish to stalk commenting on something (could be a news feed, someone else’s picture, etc.) and click that person’s name. Then, immediately click the photos tab before the screen finishes loading. Stalk until you have reach voyeuristic content thrill. Repeat if necessary.
It appears you might also be able to click the wall tab when you are in this far and actually post something to these unhidden hidden people. However, I’m not sure if anyone has actually had the guts to try that yet (it might make an interesting practical joke if done right).
Meanwhile, there are a few limitations to this trick. First, you need to find some place to click on their name, which means you likely need some kind of common friend. It doesn’t appear to work if searched directly for a username. Secondly, this only gets you in as far as what accepted friends can view. If this person has a limited profile, you won’t can’t view what they have marked as secret to select friends only. Thirdly, chances are Facebook patches this up pretty soon now that it’s out there in the open.
Have fun while it lasts, but be responsible. Techcitement does not condone stalkers. Mostly.
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