Facebook has often received stick from various quarters for its lax security policies putting user information at risk. The social networking site to its credit has often chopped and changed its privacy and security policies to get it right; however in the public eye it still hasn’t done anything substantial to tackle the menace.

In a solid move towards stringer measures to beef up its security, Facebook has come out with its new move to partner with fellow Internet companies to provide enhanced security. The company is partnering with the likes of Microsoft, McAfee, TrendMicro, Sophos, and Symantec to offer extra protection to what it already offers. The move is set to protect users from malicious URLs in addition to spam, phishing and viruses.

“Our URL blacklist system, which scans trillions of clicks per day, will now incorporate the malicious URL databases from these security companies to augment our existing level of protection,” an excerpt from the blog post by Facebook, which further adds “So whenever you click a link on our site, you benefit not just from Facebook’s existing protections, but the ongoing vigilance of the world’s leading corporations involved in computer security.”

Ever wanted to know how many mails you’ve sent in a month on Gmail or how long you take to answer an e-mail? I’m sure you did, so here is Gmail offering you the Gmail Meter. The meter will send you a monthly report of various aspects of how you use e-mail.

Gmail Meter was not designed by Google themselves, but by Romain Vialard a regular Google Apps Script contributor. Gmail has started offering the service and here’s how you can install it, go to Google Docs and create a new spreadsheet (and save it). Click on Tools, followed by Script Gallery, then search for “Gmail Meter” and click Install. An authorization prompt will ask for you to grant the tool access. A new menu item called Gmail Meter will appear on the spreadsheet. Select Gmail Meter and then Get a Report. You will get an email once the report is ready.

Looking at the features offered by the app, here are a few. Volume statistics will give you an idea of the number of important and starred messages, the number people who sent you mails etc. It gives you a clear picture of how you’re using Gmail’s priority inbox feature.

In a move to continue with a slew of changes to its functionality, Facebook has now decided to sync the timeline address and Facebook e-mail address. The change will kick into effect over the next few weeks.

For people wondering what it means to you, read on. If let us say your Timeline address or Facebook URL is Facebook.com/cristopher.25, then your e-mail address will be christopher.25@facebook.com. For people who have already set up their e-mail accounts and chosen an e-mail address through Facebook, their e-mail addresses will be unaffected.

The move comes close on the heels of Google unveiling a completely revamped and brand new Google+. The social networking giant is also set to compete with the close integration offered by Google and G+. Facebook launched vanity URL’s in 2009, however it did not have the e-mail feature at that time. The e-mail feature was rolled out in 2010, giving users a @facebook address; they could also pick their own user name based on availability.

Twitter has finally acknowledged and stepped up its pressure against spammers, who wreak havoc on the social networking site. Twitter has filed a suit in the federal court in San Francisco asking for a trial by jury against five of what it calls “the most aggressive tool providers and spammers”.

Twitter identifies the perpetrators as Skootle Corporation, JL4 Web Solutions based in the Philippines and five individuals. It believes by taking out these entities, it would have dealt with the problem at a root level. “With this suit, we’re going straight to the source. By shutting down tool providers, we will prevent other spammers from having these services at their disposal. Further, we hope the suit acts as a deterrent to other spammers, demonstrating the strength of our commitment to keep them off Twitter.”

The suit also mentions how these defendants will be held responsible for their misconduct and how it further wants to protect the interest of the platform and users from blatantly abusive activities. Their actions go against Twitter’s Terms of Service, which the defendants automatically agree to by opening an account, the suit says.

Pinterest is the latest social networking tool that is rapidly gaining popularity and fan base due to its design that intrinsically provides for shareable content, which is basically an element of the design seen in most websites. Pinterest has taken this very popular element and allowed users to experiment with the online content of their liking which they ‘pin’ to their profiles and share on a seamless platform for others to see and like. Pinterest allows users to add people who’s ‘pinned’ news and internet ‘stuff’ they’d like to follow making it an interactive social network that is essentially celebrates internet and encourages the culture of social share-ability.

However, there is a raging debate the is currently focusing on the API that Pinterest hasn’t yet released into the public domain for fears on over manipulation and loss of the original social tool structure. API is short for Application Programming Interface which allows developers and programmers to add features as desired and sometime on demand for majority users. The aspect designed runs only on the interface of the social tool and is available for users to use through a financial model which varies from developer to developer. While comparisons are rife about the usage of API and Pinterest’s fears that the tool may eventually go the twitter way that left many developers angry when their additions to the interface were remodeled and integrated into the newer versions of Twitter as a whole.

Facebook has fired the latest salvo in the ongoing patent saga between Facebook and Yahoo. The social networking site has accused Yahoo of infringing on 10 of its patents, according to a court filing. The decision comes close on the heels of Yahoo taking Facebook to court over patent infringement last month.

The move only sheds more light on the dark side of technology, where competitors continue to file claim after claim against each other for patent infringement. The patent wars have already rocked the Smartphone and Tablet space with companies such as Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp and Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. embroiled in legal battles.

The other important aspect of Facebook’s move is the timing; the company is all set for an unprecedented initial public offering, valuing the company at up to $100 billion. People following the tech space say companies are more vulnerable to patent suits, when they coincide with IPO’s, investors analyze and think twice before investing. Having said that about Facebook, Yahoo has its own fair share of problems to deal with, the Internet giant is battling against dwindling revenue, while it’s CEO Scott Thompson is facing ire from activist hedge fund Third Point.

A one click payment that uses social media login credentials to make payments is being tested by a major European media company. The inspiration behind such an idea was to make it easy for people to make minute or small scale payments, even in the range of 10 to 20 cents. The pay wall structure of online publishing houses can be bought down if the system comes into effect. For e.g. let’s say a user clicks on a link that interests him/her and leads to the article on the publisher’s website, however the article is behind a pay wall. In this scenario, one would have to miss out on reading the article or pay the subscription fee for the entire magazine. The proposed payment system will let you pay for this article alone in a single click by logging in through Facebook/Twitter.

Such a shrewd business idea can help online publishers, media companies, low-priced goods and service companies flourish. The system has been developed by a start-up company in Belgium. The company named Paycento will offer both small payment services as well as large scale.

People generally create accounts and log in to Facebook to stay in touch with friends and to make new ones. That agenda is about to make a little shift.

One of the developers of Facebook felt the social networking site was too cheerful and bright. And that led him to creating a new App, which from the response it has garnered looks like just the new ebb Facebook needs. If stalking your friends and exes was your thing to do, there is now another way to keep track of your enemies. Or are you the kind that hates all the new trends and a cynic who wanted to cry out loud? Here is the thing just for you.

Dean Terry created the app called EnemyGraph that will let Facebook users name their enemies. It’s a free app that was launched earlier this month by a team headed by Terry. A person, group, company, anything could be named as an enemy. If that message does not seem strong enough, the enemy could be upgraded to an archenemy. Hate the timeline too much? Just go make it your enemy and declare war for the world to see.

In a move that is likely to be the most posted news on the popular social networking website Facebook, Angry Birds the most downloaded, purchased and played game that was first launched with Apple iOS in Decemeber 2009, will now be available for internet users on Facebook. Developed by the Finnish gaming powerhouse company, Rovio, the game received immense success when it was made available to Apple user. Very soon as the popularity of the game surged, the game started appearing on in its online and desktop versions. Featuring wingless angry birds that need to be slingshot at unstable structures that house pigs, was popularized further due to comical style, addictive game play and low price. The game gained immense popularity amongst teens and youngsters while there is no denying that almost all age groups took an instant liking to the game.

Facebook has largely become a phenomenon that has been more pervasive than Google or YouTube put together. Its effects have been felt over a wide range of aspects like friendships, politics and business while it has increased the depth of virtual interactions through its very interestingly designed platform. The global reach of Facebook has not only made records but also broken a few. It has given people an opportunity to connect with long lost friends and estranged family members while acting as a consistent connectivity medium to those who are far away from their loved ones. Facebook’s meteoric rise has had profound effects on the way human beings are connected and how they react. Adding a new facet to human social and cultural cognition, Facebook has induced a new realm of study in the context of technology shaped human behavior and interactions.