01.jpgThe software prevents the increasingly frequent occurrence of someone
being refused a job or running into other embarrassing difficulties after
posting a photo that should have been kept private.
being refused a job or running into other embarrassing difficulties after
posting a photo that should have been kept private.
But Michael Backes, the founder of X-Pire, claims his company offers a
solution to the problem.
solution to the problem.
Before the user posts a photo, all he has to do is drag it into the X-Pire
programme which assigns it anelectronic key that is valid only for a set
time period.
programme which assigns it anelectronic key that is valid only for a set
time period.
If someone wants to view the photo at a later date, the server checks
whether the key has expired. If it has, the photo is blocked and cannot
be displayed.
whether the key has expired. If it has, the photo is blocked and cannot
be displayed.
Mr Backes said that while social network users currently have the ability
to delete photos from sites likeFacebook, most 'don't get round to it'.
to delete photos from sites likeFacebook, most 'don't get round to it'.
'Most Facebook users, for example, are passive users,' he said.
'They go on, they put on a lot of private information and almost never
come back on or they forget their password.
come back on or they forget their password.
'The software is not designed for people who understand how to protect
their data but rather for the huge mass of people who want to solve
the problem at its core and not to have to think about it any more.'
their data but rather for the huge mass of people who want to solve
the problem at its core and not to have to think about it any more.'
However, Mr Backes warned that third parties can still view and save
users' photos while they are in the valid time period.
users' photos while they are in the valid time period.
He added: 'When people put photos on line, it's so they can be seen.
Our software is not a panacea, not absolute protection.'
Our software is not a panacea, not absolute protection.'
